<div>Raising Awareness on Israel's War
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<div>I flew to Israel alone on November 16th after a heartbreaking 37 days alone in Charlotte, North Carolina after the brutal October 7th attack.
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<div>I went on Birthright when I was younger and was so moved when I learned that this tiny country was protecting me abroad in case anything horrible ever happened to the Jewish people - that I immigrated - "made Aliyah" - and spent the best seven years of my life in Israel.
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<div>The savage murders on October 7th of 1200+ civilians and the kidnapping of 250 men, women, grandparents, children and babies broke me.
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<div>As days stretched into weeks, and the protests and often pro-Hamas celebrations worldwide became bigger, <strong>I realized the moment I'd imagined on my first trip to Israel - the "dangerous moment for Jews" - was right now - that "NEVER AGAIN" - was NOW.</strong>
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<div>I booked a one-way flight to Tel Aviv.
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<div>I ended up staying in Israel for FOUR MONTHS and telling the stories from the ground, desperate to <strong>HUMANIZE</strong> events to help <strong>fight disinformation</strong> about Israel. I interviewed <strong>family members of those still held hostage, traveled to the Dead Sea to meet the evacuated families AND visited Kibbutz Be'eri with a resident and survivor who lost his brother AND had his best friend Itay Svirsky murdered in captivity on Day 99 1/2.</strong>
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<div><strong>There are still 129 hostages being held in Gaza on Day 223 of this war. </strong>
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<div><em>What began as a 2-6 week trip became four months, and was 90% self-funded. I have made connections with Israeli writers, the Family Forum Director, renowned Trauma Therapist and Writer Norman Fried of New York and Tom Hand has become a close friend and drove me to the airport. My Passover piece which covered the Hersh hostage video release was sent to Hersh's parents by their PR person.</em>
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<div><em>I only left Israel because I depleted my checking account and am now saving to return to continue this very important work and turn the collected stories into a BOOK.</em>
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<div>Anything would be helpful to help me get back there as quickly as possible and spend more time in the south. I am still interviewing and writing from the US and covering what is happening in Israel and HERE IN THE US - this "craziness on campus," which in my opinion, is scarier than the incoming rocket sirens in Israel.
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<div>Please take a moment to read a few articles on my website, <a href="https://www.melanie-preston.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.Melanie-Preston.com</a> - where you can also contact me once you subscribe.
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<div>With gratitude and peace (shalom!)
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<div>Melanie
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Mike Preston

Berl Kaufman

John Preston

Omer Rapoport

Noelle Rapopport

Olga Maryasis

Alyssa Shabsels

Judith H. Darsky

Gina Gaudet

Granite Claims Services Levine

Anna Pfeffer

Ruth Singer

Anonymous

Elisha Koota

Lena Kosinovsky

Carolee & Bill Wineburgh

Lisa Johnson

Suzan Fischbein

Inside Israel's Hostage Crisis

Inside Israel's Hostage Crisis

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