You have excelled yourself again compiling information and commentary not to be found anywhere else. The clips are compelling; by turns heartwarming and chilling. The Jews are, in a sense, our cousins. There is something really beautiful about their way of life in the kibbutzim - even amid the terrible footage of the shot-up devastation you could see that they had made the desert bloom architecturally as well as horticulturally, many young couples saying "yes" to commitment and to children, with extended families living nearby. One source of on the ground military information that has taught me more about Gaza and Israel in one week that I learnt in a lifetime are the daily 10 minute video updates from Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus. As I don't do Twitter, I access them via a daily link on the newsblog Power Line. I recommend this man and his clear briefings as a good representative of the resolve and humanity of the Israeli people. https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/10/live-from-tel-aviv-7.php
Thanks so much for reading! Yes, I've seen clips of Jonathan on Twitter, always very clear and measured.
You can also follow this Substack by a reader for more great thoughts. I was already working on this piece when Tim shared it with me, but it helped me locate the full story of Omer and Itay (which I first saw on Twitter).
The Israelis are going to have to conduct some serious fighting in urban terrain where their enemy's tactic is to use civilians as shields. This war is going to get real nasty, but I think it's a necessary war that the Israelis have to fight.
This whole thing is making me re-think how I read Deuteronomy 20 (and other verses related to it).
Thanks for this. A good reminder of top level issues....life and death. There’s certainly strong strains of the gospel here. Some things resist falling into the prevalent “shades of gray” motif the west now loves.
I am haunted by the fact, though, that unseen forces can manipulate even this life and death story line. Every sacred thing is available to be used for good and ill.
The troubling thing for me is my memory of hearing the notion that Christianity grew from the blood of martyrs. Some even have claimed that it was “built on” that blood. I do not like to think that Muslims have been somehow inspired by religious thinkers in the West. Also I have always tried to ward off the notion that heaven is a reward, or something that explains away all of our daily struggles. I simply cannot conceive of God creating this beautiful, complex, intertwined system of nature, bodies, matter itself-- and then saying, never mind , it’s not important, just wait until you die and see what’s next. I’m a believer but I fear that reward is given too much priority by some. And I can’t help wonder if the Palestinians who are trading their daily interactions for that promise are doubly misled -- tricked by ruthless, cynical leaders and swayed by sincere teachers who themselves have been swayed. In any case, for myself I prefer not to try to understand other belief systems when my own can seem contradictory in general and almost irrelevant in certain circumstances. Seem, not is.
You have excelled yourself again compiling information and commentary not to be found anywhere else. The clips are compelling; by turns heartwarming and chilling. The Jews are, in a sense, our cousins. There is something really beautiful about their way of life in the kibbutzim - even amid the terrible footage of the shot-up devastation you could see that they had made the desert bloom architecturally as well as horticulturally, many young couples saying "yes" to commitment and to children, with extended families living nearby. One source of on the ground military information that has taught me more about Gaza and Israel in one week that I learnt in a lifetime are the daily 10 minute video updates from Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus. As I don't do Twitter, I access them via a daily link on the newsblog Power Line. I recommend this man and his clear briefings as a good representative of the resolve and humanity of the Israeli people. https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/10/live-from-tel-aviv-7.php
Thanks so much for reading! Yes, I've seen clips of Jonathan on Twitter, always very clear and measured.
You can also follow this Substack by a reader for more great thoughts. I was already working on this piece when Tim shared it with me, but it helped me locate the full story of Omer and Itay (which I first saw on Twitter).
https://timothyrhinehart.substack.com/p/on-unity-and-joy-a-few-thoughts-on
I just read Timothy Rhinehart's Substack - another great find, thank you.
I think Holly's recent piece really captures what this war is going to turn into:
https://hollymathnerd.substack.com/p/on-palestine-empathy-changes-zero
The Israelis are going to have to conduct some serious fighting in urban terrain where their enemy's tactic is to use civilians as shields. This war is going to get real nasty, but I think it's a necessary war that the Israelis have to fight.
This whole thing is making me re-think how I read Deuteronomy 20 (and other verses related to it).
I have some thoughts, but I'm a bit nervous about sharing them.
Thanks for this. A good reminder of top level issues....life and death. There’s certainly strong strains of the gospel here. Some things resist falling into the prevalent “shades of gray” motif the west now loves.
I am haunted by the fact, though, that unseen forces can manipulate even this life and death story line. Every sacred thing is available to be used for good and ill.
The troubling thing for me is my memory of hearing the notion that Christianity grew from the blood of martyrs. Some even have claimed that it was “built on” that blood. I do not like to think that Muslims have been somehow inspired by religious thinkers in the West. Also I have always tried to ward off the notion that heaven is a reward, or something that explains away all of our daily struggles. I simply cannot conceive of God creating this beautiful, complex, intertwined system of nature, bodies, matter itself-- and then saying, never mind , it’s not important, just wait until you die and see what’s next. I’m a believer but I fear that reward is given too much priority by some. And I can’t help wonder if the Palestinians who are trading their daily interactions for that promise are doubly misled -- tricked by ruthless, cynical leaders and swayed by sincere teachers who themselves have been swayed. In any case, for myself I prefer not to try to understand other belief systems when my own can seem contradictory in general and almost irrelevant in certain circumstances. Seem, not is.