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NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 | 7
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Hillel.
So, if a non-Jew can be a 
Zionist, it begs the question: 
What is a Zionist? A Zionist is 
one who supports the national 
liberation movement of the 
Jewish people, which, in turn, 
means a safe and thriving 
Jewish state. A Zionist also 
embraces the triumph of Jews 
rising from the horrors of the 
Holocaust to forge the rebirth 
of the Jewish state. That the 
Jewish state also remains the 
only democracy in a region 
that would otherwise be 
void of democracy makes 
the embrace all the more 
compelling.
Of course, Israel remains 
vulnerable, as the recent attack 
by Hamas demonstrates. 
Though Israel has established 
relations with several Arab 
states since the Yom Kippur 
War and the war in Lebanon, 
these very Arab states have 
joined in to blame Israel for 
the hospital in Gaza being hit 
by a missile, which intelligence 
gathering indicates was 
actually launched within Gaza 
by Islamic Jihad.
For Israel, vigilance is not 
an option. It is a necessity. The 
Jewish state is saddled with 
hostile press and what is at 
best indifference throughout 
the world. It is the story of the 
Jewish people, which can be 
vindicated only by Zionism.
So, to paraphrase President 
Kennedy’s democratic 
proclamation in Berlin in 
1963, I, too, am a Zionist. 

John O’Neill is an Allen Park free-

lance writer and a graduate of Wayne 

State University. He contributes fre-

quent opinion pieces and reviews to 

MediaNews Group. 

guest column

Our Strength Is in Our Unity
T

he past days here 
in Israel have been 
the most challeng-
ing time our country has 
faced in the last 50 years. 
I find myself 
torn between 
the constant 
need to stay 
updated with 
the news and 
the instinct to 
create a safe 
and innocent 
bubble for my daughters. 
Just the other day, Ella (4 
years old) thought that the 
sirens might be just a fire 
drill or a tornado alert, like 
the ones she experienced at 
Hillel Day School. 
 At the same time, every 
unexpected loud noise 
makes my heart skip a beat, 
and my stomach drops when 
more and more friends 
share that they have been 
drafted to the battle. 
Only two months ago, 
we left peaceful Michigan 
after three wonderful and 
meaningful years, where 
we became a part of the 
community as shlichim. We 
were filled with mixed emo-
tions and faced challenges 
while reintegrating into 
life in Israel. Suddenly, the 
war caught us, as it did the 
entire country, completely 
off guard.
I hear heart-wrenching 
stories from my friends on 
the kibbutzim in the Gaza 
Strip. It is horrifying — 
families torn apart, children 
kidnapped, houses set on 
fire. It is surreal to believe 
that all of this is happening 
in our homeland. Here, 

where everyone knows 
everyone, it feels like we are 
all part of this war — crying 
and mourning together.
I cannot help but imagine 
my own kibbutz, with its 
beautiful green paths and 
serene atmosphere, turning 
into a war zone.
During these dark times, 
Israelis once again demon-
strate their incredible unity 
and determination to help 
one another. There are 
countless initiatives, with 
people donating their time 
and money. There is a true 
feeling of brotherhood. 
Individuals and kibbutzim 
in our partnership region 
are opening their homes, 
and local communities are 
embracing more and more 
refugee families, trying to 
provide comfort and sup-
port.
Since the war began, I 
have been receiving messag-
es from friends in Michigan, 
expressing their feelings of 
love and support. Many also 
feel helpless, wishing they 
could do more than just 

sending letters or donating 
money. 
I want you to know how 
much your support and 
actions mean to us, person-
ally and collectively to all 
Am Israel. Every time you 
send a text message to a dis-
tant relative or friend, give 
a donation, inform yourself 
with reliable news, attend a 
program, advocate, ask an 
Israeli in the community 
how he is doing — when 
you do any of those and 
more — it means the world. 
By being active, you 
strengthen us during these 
devastating days. We are in 
a critical situation, and I 
feel that we are all together 
fighting for our country. 
Everyone makes a differ-
ence. 
It will take time, but we 
will prevail. We are a strong 
people, and our unity is 
making us even stronger. 
Praying for better days. 

Paz Leket is the wife of Yiftah Leket, 

former Detroit community shaliach. 

They returned to Israel late summer.

Paz Leket