Scared to Light a Menorah, Wear a Kippah, Fasten a Mezuzah to their Door?

 A Jew writes that she is going to the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony in her city tonight... even though she is scared.

I was 33 when my husband and I picked up our young children, packed our home, and moved to Israel. We took the only grandchildren my in-laws had away, left them and my grandmother and friends and a community. There was no Nefesh b'Nefesh. I had no job...though my husband refused to make aliyah without a job and so he came first and found one and we followed.

We didn't have money in the bank...I used what we had to purchase what electronic stuff we could. We brought things we didn't need, didn't bring things we should have.

We didn't speak Hebrew...well, I spoke a little. We had three young children...

And we made it big time...because there was no going back...I didn't run FROM the United States...I ran to Israel and never looked back.

Do the same. You can do it. I did it...33 years and counting...best best best only only only decision that was right for me.

I am sick thinking of what happened in Australia today. Sick at the idea that all over the world as we light candles meant to light the world, we have been plunged into darkness.

Australia...

If it can happen in Australia...it WILL happen in other places. If you are afraid to wear a kippah in public, if you're worried about having a mezuza on your door (or worse, you've taken it off). You are living in the wrong country.

If you are afraid to light a menorah and put it in your window tonight or go to a candle-lighting ceremony...you ARE in the wrong country.

I know - you hate when Israeli Jews tell you to make aliyah. And aliyah isn't for everyone. And it's so hard in Israel...tell that to the 15 people murdered today in Sydney.

Teams from ZAKA are taking off with van loads of equipment heading to Australia to help care for the Jewish victims of this horrific attack. No words...only tears and prayers...

Australia.