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It is both mind-blowing and beautiful to watch Israel return to normal following two straight weeks of anxiety, terror and the unknown.


View original article on JNS.org

The kids went back to school on Monday. The adults returned to work. And the pools, gym and tennis courts reopened.

Early next week, summer camps should be in full swing.

Still, the sense of sudden normalcy doesn’t feel normal. It certainly doesn’t for me. I just made aliyah, and as such, experienced war as a new immigrant. I had more at stake this time.

And this war, it was different. I don’t think there has been a conflict in recent memory when friends outside of Israel could follow events so closely in real time. From WhatsApp groups like Jewish Breaking News and Israel Live News, to i24News, coupled with apps of the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command and the incessant Red Alert one, there is an overabundance of reporting from the Jewish state—and the Mideast as a whole—these past 21 months. Because that’s how long it has been. It started with the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by a regional wave of terror and transformation ever since.

In past wars and periods of tension in the Middle East, I was one of those who sat in the United States, glued to the news. Now that I am here for good, I have a new perspective. When friends and colleagues in America reach out and check in, it’s clear that the news sources they follow are not nuanced or always accurate.

When we were greeted on Friday, June 13, at 3 a.m., to a shrill sound on our phones, no one knew at first what was happening. It turns out that the alert was meant to inform Israelis to “sit tight.”

Something, of course, was happening. Israel was bombing Iran, and retaliation was imminent.

As the day unfolded, that “pre-snowstorm in America” feel was in the air. Something was about to happen for sure; it was just a matter of time. The Home Front Command announced no school, no work (except for essential services), no social outings, no simchas. Ben-Gurion International Airport was closed.

A garbage truck is one of the lone vehicles out prior to the start of the 12-day war with Iran, June 13, 2025. Photo by Howard Blas.

By 7:45 a.m., I ventured to the nearest grocery store for essentials for Shabbat. We all knew the azakah, or “warning siren,” could go off any minute. We grabbed the basics—milk, challah rolls, fruit and vegetables, hummus, some snacks—and hustled home, relieved that we could all survive the next few days, if necessary.

Shabbat services were soon canceled countrywide. A popular Tel Aviv Modern Orthodox synagogue sent a message in the WhatsApp group telling people to come by the shul at 4 p.m. to pick up some “take-home cholent, since it is already made.”

Parents of young children who look forward to the weekly camaraderie and kiddush associated with the Children’s Tefillah session arranged to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Shabbat in the local playground, which features a huge bomb shelter seconds away. Bleary-eyed moms and dads, who found themselves in and out of shelters with kids and even with their own parents between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Friday night and into Saturday morning couldn’t stop talking about their experiences.

The lucky ones have a mamad, a safe room in their apartment or apartment building. Most Israelis don’t. Instead, they rely on small, dusty bomb shelters serving an entire apartment building, or they go a few blocks to a local community shelter. Some, like in Tel Aviv, are like modern Jewish Community Centers with multiple safe rooms. These often feature electrical outlets, children’s sleep mattresses and air-conditioning, if you are lucky enough to get a coveted spot. They fill quickly. Hundreds come, along with babies, kids of all ages, even pets. They fill to capacity with the overflow waiting it out in the stairwells.

For parents, work is put on the back burner and is optional for most. Some have spouses—doctors, nurses, other caretakers—who staff Israel’s hospitals, which means that one parent is flying solo with few activities available. Caretakers often can’t make it to work due to erratic public transportation or because they have their own kids or parents to manage. I have learned that in some industries, parents of children up to age 15 or parents of children with disabilities up to age 21 cannot be called in to work; there are similar rules protecting those whose spouses are on IDF reserve duty.

Sunset in Beersheva, the largest city in southern Israel, in between attacks during the 12-day war, June 2025. Photo by Howard Blas.

Waze, unsurprisingly an Israeli innovation, just announced a new feature where the user can easily locate the nearest bomb shelter while out driving or with kids at a playground. It offers some peace of mind to veteran Israelis and new immigrants alike.

On several playgrounds, I saw kids playing a game called azakah and mamad. One child screams out azakah—“bomb alert.” The others scream mamad—“bomb shelter.” They run, pointedly, in search of safety. They must know what psychologists have known for decades: Play is an effective medium for processing trauma. Maybe so, but I’d prefer to see these kids on a swing set.

It is both mind-blowing and beautiful to watch Israel return to normal following two straight weeks of anxiety, terror and the unknown. Yes, we still always remember the hostages in Gaza, the soldiers who have given their lives in battle, and sadly, those who died in the Iranian missile attacks. But by 7 a.m., there were 20 people in front of me at the Maccabi Health Clinic waiting for blood and other lab tests. The local tennis center was open for business. All nine courts were in use by 9 a.m.

Just two days ago, a couple with two young children were considering a temporary move to the States via Jordan so they could do their jobs, so that their children could get a good night’s sleep and maybe even attend a local summer camp.

Now, that’s off the table. Ben-Gurion International Airport is open. Some foreigners are trying to get out, and Israelis are trying to get in. Summer programs that were recently canceled will be jump-started next week, including the Birthright Israel program. It’s too late to bring the Maccabiah Games back, but athletes are sure to be here in even greater numbers next summer. 

It may just be a wonderful summer, after all. Israelis are hopeful, but realistic. Everything can change in just about the time it takes to get to the nearest bomb shelter.

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Marc and Chantal Belzberg founded OneFamily in 2001 to provide emotional and financial support for Israeli families who have become victims of terror.

Marc Belzberg at a pre-1st grade event in Jerusalem for bereaved kids from across Israel. Photo by Meir Pavlovsky.

View original article on JNS.org

When Marc Belzberg, co-founder and board chairman of OneFamily, a Jerusalem-based NGO that supports victims of terror and their families, woke up in his family’s Jerusalem apartment to the sirens that followed news of the United States joining Israel’s war against Iran on Sunday morning, he went straight to the bomb shelter. 

“I am in the bomb shelter in Jerusalem right now and getting news of devastating direct hits from Iranian missiles in other parts of Israel,” he told JNS. “I know two things. Just like OneFamily has reached out to every family in Israel, bereaved or wounded by any of Israel’s enemies and has cared for their financial and emotional needs, OneFamily will continue to do so, today and every day in the future.”

Belzberg said he was also thankful to God, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu for their courageous decisions to strike Iran.

“I am comforted to know that, thanks to God above, to Donald Trump and to Bibi Netanyahu, the ten million people living in Israel are in the safest position that we have been in for many years, because of the destruction of Iran’s nuclear weapons sites,” he said. 

“I hope and pray that the coming days will bring joy and celebration to the people of Israel and that no one should be hurt or killed in any retaliatory attacks by our enemies,” he added.

Chantal and Marc Belzberg. Credit: Courtesy of OneFamily.

OneFamily

Marc and Chantal Belzberg founded OneFamily in 2001 to provide emotional and financial support and a wide range of group experiences for Israelis who have become victims of terror.  At the time, they could not have imagined the extraordinary number of people they would serve and the range of services their organization would be providing in the year 2025.   

While the Belzbergs made aliyah from New York, the Canadian-born Marc credits his Belgian-born wife Chantal, who is a board member and volunteer executive director of the NGO’s Israel office, for what he described as her “intuition sensitivity.” 

This, he said, has enabled the organization to tweak programs that are already working well, implement new initiatives and pursue new directions as new situations and challenges arise. OneFamily provides a gentle touch and crucial services to Israelis struggling to cope and move forward with their lives during these trying times.

Belzberg explained in a Zoom interview that, in many ways, One Family adheres to the same principles from the early days of its founding.  Both playfully and earnestly, he told JNS, “For the last 20 years, I just gave out hugs, kisses, encouragement and money. I just take care of people.”  

Belzberg is particularly proud of the length and depth of each relationship they have nurtured. “We have developed super long-term relationships, like with an 8-year-old whose father was killed in a pigua (terrorist attack) who is now 26.  Or with the boys whose father was killed many years ago and are now rabbis teaching the daf yomi (daily page of Talmud) class I attend.” 

He noted proudly that “many feel close to me and me to them, so we stay in touch.” While he was still doing his job, he conceded, “It is a little more difficult.”

The Belzbergs created the organization when their daughter Michal was preparing for her bat mitzvah and learned of a 2001 suicide bombing at Jerusalem’s Sbarro pizzeria in which 15 people were killed and 130 wounded.  They needed to cancel their planned Jerusalem bat mitzvah and she decided to donate money to victims of terror.

Belzberg offered his perspective on the number of people impacted by terror attacks since just before the organization’s founding until today.  “In a little over 20 years, 2,000 people were killed in terror attacks. This time, in a year, 2,000 were killed.  And in a day, 1,200 were killed (on Oct. 7, 2023). The fatalities of 20 years have taken place in a year, so the scale is unfathomable and the needs and responsibility had to scale up too.”

Rapid expansion

To date, according to the organization, OneFamily has served nearly 12,000 victims of terror, supported 7,238 families, 1,638 bereaved parents and 1,142 orphans.  It reported that 12,000 people have participated in support groups, and that OneFamily has provided some 933 scholarships for students and 78,000 hours of therapy and workshops.

This rapid expansion of services has meant a tripling of staff.  The need for an extremely large staff during a period of so many deaths stems from their simple, hands-on and ongoing approach to providing comfort and support.

“On day 2 or 3 of shiva (the seven-day mourning period), someone from OneFamily shows up,” Belzberg said. “We give them a cup with our logo and tell them that, even as people leave after shiva, ‘We will be there forever to help you.’ We then go back after shiva and fill out forms ask about the number of kids they have, see if the fridge is full, see if they have air conditioning, desks, money for blankets, beds, etc.  We have given out $100 million in 20 years, over half of which addresses poverty issues.”  

Belzerg highlighted the two hallmarks of OneFamily’s work: “Holistic family approach and the forever approach.”  He noted that they offer support to the whole family, including grandparents and siblings, and that they are available 24/7, serving as “professional friends.” 

He said that, unlike in regular therapy where there are professional boundaries, “here it is the opposite.”  Most of the volunteer counselors who work with young children are pre-army 12th graders who “stick with it forever.”

In addition, the organization provides advocacy for and assists in accessing entitlements from government and other sources.

A “laughter workshop” of bereaved young adult siblings that took place at the OneFamily headquarters in Jerusalem. Photo by Meir Pavlovsky.

It also offers ongoing rehabilitation for people dealing with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These therapeutic programs offer support to orphans and children, bereaved parents and siblings, widows and widowers and the wounded themselves.

In recent years, the bereaved and wounded have taken trips to such places as Thailand, the Czech Republic and Ethiopia to assist in the healing process.  One trip focused specifically on those who lost a sibling in battle or at the Nova Music Festival. Another group went to Sri Lanka, where they surfed until noon then participated in intense group sessions. 

A key to such trips is bringing those recently affected by loss and those further along in the process. “On a recent ski trip for those who lost both parents, we had two who lost both parents 20 years ago,” Belzberg said.  

Close to home

For the Belzbergs, a recent event in the current war brought their OneFamily and their own family worlds closer together. Their son and two other IDF soldiers were the only ones who were “miraculously unscathed” in an ambush, while four of his comrades were killed and six others wounded.

Belzberg acknowledged that this had been difficult, observing that these are the realities of life in Israel.  He stressed that the Belzberg family was not alone in confronting such issues close to home, pointing out that OneFamily even has an English-speaking grandparents group for those who have children and grandchildren killed in battle.

Despite the difficulties of the present moment, Belzberg said, OneFamily continues to focus on the ongoing need for its work “to create bonds” and to help families move forward. He is also pleased that people outside of Israel are taking note and learning from their work. 

Chantal Belzberg participated in the June 5-6 “Reshaping Mass Trauma Response: A First of its Kind Conference” in New York City, a joint initiative of Mount Sinai Health System and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (also known as Ichilov).  “She was a superstar!” Marc told JNS.

In her address, Chantal said, “While our story is Israeli, our message is universal: Trauma doesn’t end when the news cycle does.  Its wounds are often invisible. And healing must be long-term and human. Because trauma isn’t a single event. It’s a ripple. It touches every part of a person’s life: his identity, his relationships, his family and his future. That’s why our model at OneFamily is built around the whole person— and the whole family.” 

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Since October 7, Hashayara has played for displaced families, evacuated communities, soldiers on the front lines, and youth in bomb shelters.

Hashayara in Wilmington, Delaware.(photo credit: Siegel JCC) | View the original article on The Jerusalem Post

The events of October 7, 2023, have created an unlimited need for avenues of healing and dealing with trauma, not only in Israeli society but also in the Jewish world, where antisemitism has run rampant.

Gilad Perry, a musician and Jewish educator from Karmiel, combined his two loves to form Hashayara, a musical ensemble that brings together the community through song.

Perry, 47, explains that Hashayara means “convoy – people going someplace in a direction, where everyone can get on board and join,” and that the musical journey he’s created with help from his keyboard-playing brother Asaf, “uses music to bring people together to create connections – with each other, with the community, and with the songs.”

Since October 7, they’ve played for displaced families, evacuated communities, soldiers on the front lines, and youth in bomb shelters. And more recently, the 14-member ensemble performed for nine Jewish communities in the US, from Massachusetts to Texas.

Perry, born in Karmiel, spent a lot of time in the mid-1990s playing hard rock music in bomb shelters. “We played Nirvana and Pearl Jam but also listened to the oldies and goodies at home –  Chava Alberstein, Arik Einstein.” He looks back on joining the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (Working and Studying Youth Movement), which he reports was “life-changing.”

He credits the kibbutz youth movement for his deepened knowledge of and connection to Zionism, which he describes as “a call for fulfilling values and reality.”

Perrys feels that “there is something very Zionistic in shira b’zibbur (public singing) – everyone sits in a circle and can see each other, everyone can participate, there is no hierarchy, and our voices literally create sound waves together – something deep happens when we hear songs we like. There is something very rewarding and healing.”It is this healing power of singing together that Perry and Hashayara put in to action in the days following October 7.

“In October 2023, we realized as part of our mission, we have a responsibility to bring music, healing, and connection wherever it is needed. We put our instruments in the car and started driving.” They essentially haven’t stopped driving and sharing their important work. They have performed over 180 shows and musical encounters for soldiers, evacuees, survivors, and various communities.

“In a meeting at a Dead Sea Hotel with evacuees, we saw people with pain but also resilience facing the most important challenges of overcoming trauma and creating a normal life.” Perry describes “meeting thousands,” performing songs in lobbies and conference rooms, and witnessing “laughing, crying, and letting go.”

At each gathering, the musicians strive to “break the barrier between stage and audience.” They pick five or six songs, followed by the audience selecting songs. “Some evacuees and soldiers even joined us on stage and became part of Hashayara!” The musicians have donated guitars, ukuleles, melodicas, and darbukas to both army units and evacuees following performances.

Hashayara extends reach outside of Israel

Following their warm reception within Israel, Hashayara decided to share their important musical and healing experience outside of Israel.

“We realized that the Jewish community in the United States is going through very challenging times and that our responsibility is not just for those within Israel. We are needed there as well.” A program for non-Israelis would need to offer a different message and take lack of familiarity with Hebrew in to account. “We did things like create mashups – Let It Be with Lu Y’hi and I’ve Got Sunshine with Keren Shemesh. We also project lyrics in Hebrew and English and teach some songs.

The US shows included two special songs –  “Anachnu Ve’Atem” (We and You) and a moving Hebrew adaptation of John Denver’s song “Country Roads.”

The first song, originally written in the 1970s by Yoram Taharlev and Yair Rosenblum, was rearranged to offer a message of unity between the Jewish communities of Israel and the US. The second song features raw emotion-containing lyrics by Noa Hobara from Kibbutz Sufa, in memory of her husband, Ido Hobara, who was killed on October 7 defending their home.

Perry never forgets that “Israel must be a hagshama, a realization for such values as tikun olam (repairing the world), v’ahavta l’reacha k’mocha (loving your neighbor as yourself) and kol Yisrael areivim zeh b’zeh (all Jews are responsible for each other). Through music, we can try to remember that and create a call to our participants.”

The group’s performances have touched a nerve. Ayala Gidron, a PhD student at Bar -lan University, saw the Hashayara performance in Virginia while spending the 2024 academic year at the College of William and Mary and says that it created hope for her.

“The focus isn’t on what might be, but on the encounter-taking place in the present moment – between us and you. That’s why it actively creates hope, turns it into a tangible experience, grounds it, while still preserving its spiritual depth. It’s not detached from what is happening in the room–it generates it,” she says.

Nammie Ichilov, president & CEO of the Jewish Community of Greater Naples, said that he loved having Hashayara in his community.

“Hashayara’s presence brought the spirit of Israel directly to our community at a time when we needed it most; and the image of the standing-room-only packed 400 community member social hall, spanning generations, waving flags, dancing in the aisles, and joining together in song will remain with us for years to come.”

Hayashara currently has two more shows scheduled in the US in October and hopes to tour such countries as England, France and Austria. Hashayara also plans to create music and healing programs for residents returning to their communities in the north and south.

“It’s important for our show to be a journey during the very hard times that we are experiencing – and address October 7, loss, the hostages and other issues in Israeli society,” says Perry. “We go through that, as well as hope, solidarity and togetherness.

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Freed from a supporting role, Deni Avdija found his rhythm—and emerged as the Blazers’ most reliable force on both ends of the court.

By HOWARD BLAS APRIL 18, 2025 04:16

DENI AVDIJA speaks to reporters upon his return to Israel this week following a NBA season that saw him take his game to the next level with the Portland Trail Blazers. (photo credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN)
DENI AVDIJA speaks to reporters upon his return to Israel this week following a NBA season that saw him take his game to the next level with the Portland Trail Blazers.(photo credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN)

View the original article in the Jerusalem Post

There was no singular moment that defined Deni Avdija’s fourth NBA season. No viral dunk or buzzer-beater that rocketed him into superstardom overnight.

Instead, what unfolded over the course of the 2024/25 campaign was something rarer – a slow-burning, month-over-month evolution that turned heads across the league and marked the 23-year-old Israeli forward’s transformation from a solid contributor into a genuine cornerstone.

The numbers paint the picture clearly. Before the All-Star break, Avdija averaged a respectable 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game – all career highs at the time. But something changed after mid-February. Over the final stretch of the season, his production soared: 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. The leap was real – and undeniable.

For those watching closely, the breakout wasn’t just statistical. It was in the way Avdija carried himself. He attacked mismatches with confidence, became a more decisive ball handler, and defended with the same grit that had defined his early years – only now, with a more complete offensive package to match.

Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts in the final minutes of a 127-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks on April 1, 2025. (credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts in the final minutes of a 127-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks on April 1, 2025. (credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Proving his power

“People always talk about potential,” Avdija said one night in New York, speaking to a group of reporters after a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “But I feel like this year, I didn’t want to just show flashes. I wanted to prove I could do it consistently, night in and night out.”

That night – a 26-point, 14-rebound, 4-assist performance – felt like a culmination of all he’d been building toward. The Blazers lost the game in overtime, but Avdija was the best player on the floor for stretches, holding his own in one of basketball’s most iconic arenas.

“I know this is a special place, and I wanted to show what I can do,” he said. “It means a lot to me to perform here.”

Avdija’s breakout couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time for the Portland Trail Blazers. After trading away franchise icon Damian Lillard in 2023 and officially entering a rebuild, the Blazers were desperate for young players to take a leap. They had promising talent in rookie guard Scoot Henderson and athletic wing Shaedon Sharpe, but it was Avdija – acquired in a preseason trade from the Washington Wizards – who quickly became the team’s most consistent presence.

Freed from the role-player confines of Washington, where he was often the fourth or fifth option behind Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis, Avdija stepped into the Portland lineup with a green light he had never known before.

“From day one, the coaching staff just told me to be aggressive,” Avdija said. “That trust, that freedom… it made all the difference. I wasn’t looking over my shoulder every time I took a shot.”

He responded with career-best performances across the board – setting new personal highs in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, and usage rate. He also shot over 38% from three after the All-Star break, up from just under 31% before.

The transformation wasn’t just mental – it was physical too. Avdija spent the summer prior to the season adding strength and refining his handle. The work paid off, allowing him to play through contact, initiate offense, and bully smaller defenders in the post.

The night at Madison Square Garden was emblematic of his rise – a national stage, a hungry Knicks crowd, and a competitive game that came down to the wire. And through it all, there was Avdija, unflinching.

“When you play here, you know the lights are brighter,” he said with a grin after the game. “But that’s what you dream about as a kid – big arenas, big moments. I didn’t feel pressure. I felt energy.”

He had 10 points in the fourth quarter alone, helping the Blazers claw back from a double-digit deficit and forcing overtime. Though Portland ultimately fell short, Avdija’s performance was a statement: he belonged in these moments, and he could lead.

“Deni was incredible tonight,” head coach Chauncey Billups said. “That’s the kind of competitor he is. He gives us everything – on both ends.”

What made Avdija’s season more impressive was his ability to lead amid adversity. The Blazers were one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and the losses piled up quickly – especially as injuries sidelined key players like Sharpe and Deandre Ayton for stretches.

Through it all, Avdija remained a stabilizing force. He played in 77 of Portland’s 82 games, often guarding the opposing team’s best scorer while also shouldering more offensive responsibility than ever before.

“He doesn’t take nights off,” veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon said. “That’s what I respect most about him. You can see he wants it.”

His leadership wasn’t loud or performative. It was quiet, steady, built on work ethic and presence. Young teammates looked to him in huddles. Coaches leaned on him during chaotic stretches. Fans embraced him as one of the few bright spots in a difficult season.

While Avdija has always carried the weight of being the highest Israeli draft pick in NBA history – selected ninth overall in 2020 – this year felt like the first time he fully embraced the responsibility that comes with that.

He spoke openly throughout the season about representing Israel during a complicated time back home. In interviews, he balanced pride with perspective, often deflecting attention away from himself and toward his role as a cultural ambassador.

“I know a lot of kids are watching me – not just for basketball, but for how I carry myself,” he said. “That’s something I take seriously.”

In return, Israeli fans followed every box score, every highlight, every breakout performance. His postgame interview at MSG – where he switched between English and Hebrew – went viral in Israel. When he waved to a section of Israeli fans in the crowd after the game, it was clear how much the moment meant on both sides.

“I saw them,” he said with a smile. “It gives me chills, honestly.”

The Blazers finished the season with a 24–58 record – well outside the playoff picture – but the front office now has a clearer vision of the future. And at the center of it is a 6-foot-9 playmaking forward who just completed one of the league’s most impressive post-All-Star surges.

“I’m just getting started,” Avdija said in his final media availability of the season. “I’ve always known what I can do. Now other people are starting to see it too.”

He’ll enter the offseason with momentum, confidence, and perhaps – for the first time – a team fully committed to building around him. While Scoot Henderson may still be the long-term point guard of the future, it’s Avdija who has shown the highest floor and perhaps the most untapped ceiling.

His improved three-point shooting, ability to rebound and push the pace, and versatile defense make him a rare two-way wing in a league that covets exactly that.

“Deni’s game has matured,” Billups said. “He’s not forcing it. He’s letting the game come to him – and when it does, he knows exactly what to do with it.”

Four years into his NBA journey, Deni Avdija is no longer the raw teenager who arrived from Maccabi Tel Aviv full of promise. He’s bigger, smarter, more poised – and, most importantly, confident in his ability to lead.

“Being in the league, you grow up fast,” Avdija said. “You learn how to fight through tough nights, how to bounce back. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve failed a lot. And I’ve grown a lot.”

This season wasn’t just a breakout. It was a foundation.

And if the second half of 2024/25 is any indication, the best is still to come.

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