Annie Calvert, MBA, CPC’s Post

Is there a child here who speaks Hebrew? Is there a child here who speaks Hebrew? Don’t be afraid. We are here to save you. This desperate cry sounded yesterday by an IDF officer, towards a long column of refugees in the north of Gaza, hoping to be the ray of light to a child that has been brutally kidnapped from his family 45 long days ago. From the pilot in the sky to the officer on the ground, this war is about life. It’s about the lives of the 240 kidnapped, as well as the ability of Israels Citizens, Jews Christian and Muslims, to live peacefully in our small country. For many of you that consume your news from the BBC and other similar networks, this statement may sound disconnected and outrageous. Seeing the destruction and the devastating loss of life in Gaza can lead you to think that Israel is trying to take revenge for the massacare on 10/7 and is actively, or at least carelessly, hitting civilians. As an active reserve duty officer, I can personally testify that this is not true. The soldiers who fight in this war are not some distant people you don’t know. These are the entrepreneurs, developers and executives who you met in conferences and done business with. We do not change our values when we put our uniform but uphold them to the highest standards. We do our best to complete our mission, with minimal civilian casualties, in a very challenging environment, and our mission is to save lives. We need to bring them home. We will bring them home.

This year, celebrating Christmas feels impossible. The devastation caused by the ongoing genocide in Palestine makes it hard to find any joy. How can we imagine the shepherds finding the Christ amid the rubble and destruction caused by the Israeli occupation? How could they follow the Star of Jacob to Bethlehem, when the sky is filled with smoke from missiles raining death upon innocent civilians in Gaza? How do we mark this season while knowing that the second oldest church in Palestine has been destroyed by the Israeli military, and dozens of innocent lives seeking refuge in it were taken away? The cries of the innocent in Gaza echo worldwide, pleading for our humanity to stop this death, this displacement. It's a plea to the world’s conscience: Stop our deaths, stop our killings, stop our displacement. We are human beings deserving of life. Death has taken so much from us, yet the world insists on feeding us to it, despite us and against us. #protectchildren #protectcivilians #stopgenocideingaza #stopviolence

Be empathetic and compassionate

Today, as the first light of dawn was still hours away, I set out at 3:40 AM on a 22.3-mile pilgrimage—the distance between Gaza and Rafah—to honor the memory of the 35,000+ Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7th. Embarking on this music-free, food-and-water-free, break-free journey, I aimed to draw attention to the immense suffering and injustice faced by the Palestinian people. Through this physical endurance challenge, I stand in solidarity with them, using my privilege to shed light on their plight. Barefoot for 10.39 miles of the 22 and determined, I began my journey with the resolve to push through the pain and discomfort without respite. By walking this distance, I hope to evoke empathy and spur action among those who may not fully grasp the extent of the crisis. My protest is an extremely small gesture compared to the daily struggles faced by Palestinians, but it is a deliberate act of resistance and awareness, aiming to amplify their voices and stories to a broader audience. I journaled in my notes app throughout the morning and am sharing some of my thoughts at random timestamps in the comment section below. This solo protest is my choice, a temporary discomfort I can step away from. Yet, for many Gazans and Palestinians, such grueling experiences are a daily reality. They endure unimaginable hardships—walking miles barefoot, without water or food, and often without the basic human dignity of music, sanitary products, or bathroom breaks. To those who view my actions as extreme or unnecessary, I pose this question: Why do you not consider it extreme or unnecessary for our leaders to perpetuate conditions that force people to suffer such indignities? Acknowledge my immense privilege in being able to return to "normal" after this. Most, if not all, other Palestinians do not have that luxury. 🇵🇸 #LiberatedZone

Tantura massacre 22–23 May 1948, not so different from what is happening right now in the West Bank and Gaza! Here is an Israeli documentary called “Tantura” with real testimonies from Israeli individuals who formed Israel. Some of them feel guilty, but others seem to find it funny and laugh about it! So sad! Here is the full movie link: https://lnkd.in/d77PXk2P And yet, how the media is disguising the truth is shameful. Just yesterday, I was watching the BBC; they focus more on individual Israeli hostages, highlighting personal traits like 'loves nature', whereas Palestinians are often mentioned collectively as if they don't have the same individual human qualities as Israelis. This kind of media portrayal, which has been ongoing for decades, is brainwashing the public into seeing Palestinians as less human compared to Israelis. If anybody believes it's the promised land just because Jews were there 2000 years ago, then by that logic, nobody would be living in their original homelands today, be it the UK, USA, or anywhere else. A crucial fact: Muslims don't hate Jews; in fact, for a long time, Jews were respected by Muslims, more so than in the West. This part of history is often missed. When Jews first came to Palestine, they were welcomed warmly. However, the situation evolved dramatically with the onset of violence and territorial disputes. The question of peace becomes complex when considering the suffering and losses experienced by our people. It's challenging to discuss peace amidst ongoing violence, land expropriation, demolition of houses, kidnapping kids and shooting people in the streets! #openyoureyes #freepalastine

I urge you to take 10 minutes and watch this powerful video. Douglas Murray highlights a critical truth: "The war with Gaza would be over tomorrow not just if Ha*as returned its Jewish hostages but if the Palestinians in Gaza brought up their children not to hate but to love. Not to aspire to a cult of death, but to join Israel in the belief in life. Not to believe in destroying a state but to put their energies into building one." Ha*as must release the innocent hostages immediately! This is a crucial first step toward ending the ongoing conflict. However, true peace will only come when there is a profound shift in how Palestinian children in Gaza are raised – teaching them to love instead of hate, to value life over death, and to build rather than destroy. The future of the region hinges on this transformation. We need to break the cycle of violence and hatred and create a reality where Israelis and Palestinians can coexist peacefully, with mutual respect and a shared commitment to life and progress. #bringthemhomenow #standtogether #HopeAndResilience #bringthemhome #istandwithisrael

Deep-seated problem between Israeli's and Palestinians revealed! Below is a Question from Jazz for Peace to a Jewish person who is a supporter of destroying Hamas at all costs. Did Jazz for Peace™ just make an extraordinary MidEast discovery? Tell Us Your Opinion! #QuestionByJazzforPEACE: Do you think its possible that: A. Palestinians - even though they were talking the talk of wanting peace - are not participating in our vote in large numbers because the ruling party controlling them only wants them to manipulate public sentiment - but does not actually support any kind of real resolution? While at the same time: B. Israeli's who might also take interest in this proposal feel absolutely convinced that as soon as they let down their guard Hamas would launch a sneak attack? #ANSWER from Jewish supporter of destroying Hamas at all costs to Jazz for Peace: "Both are 100% true" IS THIS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM PREVENTING PEACE? Please tell us: If you could vote RIGHT NOW for a Cease-Fire. WOULD YOU DO IT? What if it ALSO included FUNDS, for food and help to those in need? WOULD YOU DO IT? Guess what ~ NOW YOU CAN! https://lnkd.in/emFNgYHa
 #SeeItToBelieveIt here: https://lnkd.in/egdwUrPj and VOTE HERE https://lnkd.in/exxUx8DN Jazz for Peace™ ~ "A chance for you to BE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE" ****See this Rick DellaRatta & Jazz for Peace™ Interview Live from Jordan https://lnkd.in/erYF57Ah and CLICK BELOW to VOTE NOW!!! HERE'S WHY: We believe the vote we are proposing would be beneficial towards a helpful step in the right direction for peace in this region because it is advantageous enough for BOTH the Palestinian and Israeli People to vote together and in favor of for "not only a cease-fire, but also for the funding to address the damage and heal the wounds and where ALL FUNDS allocated for war efforts to be shared amongst outstanding causes to benefit ordinary people”

We’re traumatized by October 7, terrified by rising anti-semitism, and anxious about the tragic war in Gaza. Even in my relatively safe perch in Ramat Beit Shemesh, every distant boom and thud delivers an unsettling message: someone sent a rocket to kill me, and that might have happened if the Iron Dome hadn’t knocked it out of the sky. Then come the questions. Will the world always to supply Israel with these $40,000 intercepters? What about when they miss? Healthy Jewish Daily Fasts can help to safely digest such disturbing thoughts. We can proactively choose to ground ourselves in balanced living, reaching beyond the chaos, upwards toward the Source of life itself. How does it work? Check out The Healthy Jew (link in comments). Subscribe for free to learn how healthy Jewish living can help you Find Wellness During Wartime.