An Open Letter to the Entertainment Industry : https://layoftheland.online/2026/01/12/to-those-who-have-taken-to-stage-screen-and-petition-facts-matter/

Throughout the decades, many of you from stage, screen and the recording arts have been voices for what you believe in. You have united against Apartheid South Africa, marched for the #MeToo movement, advocated for gender parity and told the world that Black Lives Matter.

There is one area where you have been conspicuous – not just by your silence – but by your inversion of human rights. We are speaking about the human rights of Israelis and the Jewish people. While it is important to advocate for the rights of Palestinian civilians who are as trapped by Hamas as we in Israel are, there is a propensity for many of you to take the carefully crafted propaganda from Hamas, sponsored by the Muslim Brotherhood as absolute fact.

Facts have become the first casualty of this war that Hamas forced upon both Israelis and Palestinians. Facts are important. Lives are at stake. Antisemitism has risen to levels not seen since before the Holocaust and while many of you have taken to stage, screen and petition, no doubt with honorable intentions, it is important that you understand the facts.

• Thousands of entertainment industry professionals signed a letter stating they would boycott members of the Israeli film industry “they believe are connected to genocide.” It has been proven (see links and definition below) that there has been no genocide committed in the Gaza strip during this war rather this slur is designed to demonize the Jewish state. To exclude fellow artists from your industry because of their ethnicity is racist. The Israeli film industry represents a myriad of views and opinions and provides employment, including to Palestinians. Boycotting Israeli filmmakers not only silences Palestinians; but also robs them of employment opportunities.
• Two hundred industry celebrities signed a petition to release Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barghouti. Barghouti is serving five consecutive life sentences for the murders of Israelis. He is also serving time for 20 charges of attempted murder. He is not the Palestinian equivalent of Nelson Mandela. Any attempts to draw comparisons is an appalling insult to his victims, including Father (Priest) Tsibouktzakis. The second intifada, which saw the murders of over 1000 Israelis, was not a romantic uprising of “freedom fighters”. It was deliberate, targeted murder. Signing a petition calling for his release endorses the murder of Israelis.
• Removal of music from Israeli sources – while many disagree with how Israel has prosecuted this war (without offering their expert military opinions about how to fight a war with an unprecedented battlefield scenario), removing access to music for Israelis, many who have experienced unbearable loss is not in the interest of peace or the Palestinians, it is discriminatory and racist. Have any of the artists who have done this removed their music from British, French, and American etc. streamers because civilians have been tragically killed in war?
• Exclusion of Jews who support Israel, i.e. Zionists from artistic spaces. Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people and the belief in the right of Israel to exist as the only nation state of the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland. Zionism, despite the many attempts by Israel’s detractors to use it as a slur, is not about dispossessing anyone. There has never been a state of Palestine and Jews have maintained a continuous presence in the land that carries the story of the Jewish people, amply proven through antiquity. Excluding Jewish artists for a fundamental religious belief or saying that every nation has the right to determine its own future except for the Jewish people is racist.
• The demonization of Israelis on stage and screen. Israel is the Jewish state – when you demonize Israelis, you effectively enable hate speech against Jews.

The slurs that are employed against Israel and the Jewish people are not just catchy phrases. They have specific and legal definitions. On 14 December, 15 people, nearly all Jewish, were murdered at a candle-lighting event to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. Nobody in the shattered Jewish community of Sydney where the terror attack took place was surprised. Routine demonization of the Jewish state, including by many in the entertainment industry who have parroted Hamas propaganda, including the blood libel that 14 000 Palestinian children would die in a matter of hours from starvation to your millions of followers has helped foster a climate of hate which led to the inevitable.  Not only did 14 000 children not die, many did not remove it from their social media – or apologise. While some of you expressed your sorrow at the murder of Jewish men, women and children in Bondi – many also neglected to mention that they were of the Jewish faith. Words have weight and it important we understand what they mean. Lives are at stake. 

Apartheid – from the Afrikaans, to “separateness”, lit. ’aparthood’) was a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s.[note 1] It was characterized by an authoritarian political culture which ensured that South Africa was dominated politically, socially, and economically by the nation’s minority white population. The rights of all citizens in Israel are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. All citizens of Israel are fully enfranchised. To call Israel an Apartheid state, makes a mockery of the true victims of the racist system and is inherently factually incorrect. Palestinians fall under the remit of Hamas (presently) in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the territories they control in Judea and Samaria (West Bank).

Genocide –  The word “Genocide”, first coined by Polish-Jewish lawyer, Raphael Lemkin, has a specific legal definition and refers to certain acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. It does not pertain to civilian deaths in times of war and Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. This is evidenced by the lack of intent, low civilian vs combatant ratio as demonstrated in the links below, forming of humanitarian corridors, humanitarian aid entry, vaccinations against disease like polio, evacuation of medically vulnerable to other countries for treatment, early warning of impending strikes and more. Hamas and other terror organizations committed genocide and acts of mass sexual violence during their invasion into Israel on 7 October 2023.

Colonization – the establishing of a colony subjugation of a people or area especially as an extension of state power. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and has sued for peace on many occasions – and each offer refused. Zionism is the opposite of colonization; it is the returning of the Jewish people to their ancient home, a modern-day miracle.

Sadly, when your voices were needed the most, many of you were silent. Many of you wore pins on your clothes to awards ceremonies. You claimed they were in support of a ceasefire – but the reality is that they were the symbol of the lynching of two IDF soldiers. How many of you were aware of that? None of you wore yellow ribbons to call for the immediate release of the over 250 hostages that were taken on 7 October including babies, Holocaust survivors and whole families.

You marched for gender parity and for the #MeToo movement – but were silent or derisive when our women and girls were raped on 7 October and silent when our hostages, including the males were sexually violated by their terrorist captor.

You were silent when Hamas paraded our emaciated released hostages or our babies in coffins in grotesque ceremonies that were carnivals of the grotesque.

You were silent as millions of Israelis were attacked from seven fronts, including the hundreds of ballistic missiles that rained down on our cities from Iran, destroying city blocks.

You were silent when nearly 400 young festivalgoers who danced for peace were hunted down and slaughtered.

You are unusually silent about the ceasefire in place. A ceasefire that has exposed Hamas’s inhumane treatment of Palestinians as they attempt to rebuild. Is it because you know that countries who “commit genocide” do not offer peace plans? You marched for civil rights for BLM but remain silent about the astronomic rise of antisemitism. Why?

Facts matter. For many, Israel-Palestine is the cause du jour. For the people of Israel and Gaza – this is our lives. Please review the following links compiled by historians and researchers for important facts:

 The Henry Jackson Society presents research on civilian casualty figures in Gaza: https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/questionable-counting/

War scholar and Chair of Urban Warfare studies at WestPoint Academy, Maj (ret) John Spencer examines claims of genocide:
https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/im-a-war-scholar-there-is-no-genocide-in-gaza-john-spencer-on-x/

COGAT the IDF Unit for the coordination of humanitarian aid dashboard:
https://gaza-aid-data.gov.il/mainhome/

The UK All Parties Parliamentary Commission in depth report into the atrocities of 7 October:
https://www.7octparliamentarycommission.co.uk

Dinah Project Report into crimes of sexual violence committed on 7 October: https://thedinahproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Dinah-Project-full-report-A4-pages_web-2.pdf

We ask you to consider the facts. We invite you to visit Israel to see and hear the reality for yourself. We implore you to be bridge builders and not create division. We ask you to speak of peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

This article appears in Lay of the Land: https://layoftheland.online/2025/11/25/the-essence-of-her-name/

In loving memory of Tova Ben Dov

If anyone was the absolute embodiment of her name, it was Tova Ben Dov. Tova, as her name suggests, was goodness personified. With twinkling blue eyes and the familiar sound of “Bubbeleh” greeting all who she was fond of, Tova brought her unique charm, wisdom and humour to all who knew her.

I will never forget the first time I met Tova. I joined a cohort of WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization) women at the World Zionist Congress and saw how this slender, twinkly-eyed lady wielded tremendous power and respect and how when she spoke, she commanded the room.

Assigning herself as my “ima Israelit” (Israeli mother), Tova was a pillar of support and a gentle guide to help navigate the travails of Aliyah. I looked so forward to our chats where she would share anecdotes and always looked for the silver linings, even though these past years that have been so difficult for all of us. Tova never missed a beat – she knew what was happening in our communities around the world and stood strong in her identity, always encouraging pride in who we are and the imperative of standing up to the hate.

With wisdom, humour and patience, Tova was a mentor to so many, including WIZO women. Creating leaders and education was important to Tova; and from Melbourne, to Malmo, we were guided, encouraged and mentored by her.

Tova was more than just Honorary Life President of WIZO – she was the beating heart of the movement. Tova poured her heart into everything that she did and it shows in her legacy and the love that so many have for her.

Tova was born in Tel Aviv to parents from a Zionist family that was one of the founders of the Jewish state. For six decades, she devoted herself to WIZO.

Starting her career as a volunteer at the Herzliya Pituach branch, she became a respected leader on the national and international stage.

Working her way up the WIZO ladder, she held several leadership positions, including President of World WIZO from 2012 to 2016. She also served as vice president of the World Jewish Congress, a member of the executive committee of the Jewish Agency for Israel and a member of the International Council of Women.

Among other things, Ben-Dov founded the Open House in Sderot, named after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as well as the first secure daycare center in the southern Israeli city. During her tenure, WIZO won the Israel Prize in 2008 for its contribution to advancing the status of women and gender equality.

In 2011, Tova was honoured with the Yakir Tel Aviv-Yafo award in recognition of her dedication to the well-being of the city, and in 2016, she was awarded the title of honorary fellow of the World Zionist Congress.

These are incredible achievements and are testament to a lifetime of service to her country.

Her greatest pride and joy has always been her family and her siblings, three children, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter, survive her. Tova was laid to rest in the Kiryat Shaul cemetery.

Her passing leaves a gaping hole in the lives of so many. May we all live up to the example that she set. Tova by name – and by nature. Goodness personified. May her memory be eternally blessed.

This article appears in Lay of the Land: https://layoftheland.online/2025/10/27/golda-would-be-proud/

Sports is helping female olim break barriers

In a world that is increasingly polarized, sport is one of the few unifiers. It is not just about bringing people of different backgrounds together, sometimes it is about helping new olim (immigrants) acclimate to living in Israel – and finding their friends and community.

For many female olim who want to try break into the Israeli sports scene, the challenges may seem overwhelming. Language barriers, bureaucracy and cultural differences are sometimes prohibitive but playing a sport, especially a team-oriented game, can do wonders.

In recent weeks, Tazuz and Project Max, who are both organisations building bridges and breaking barriers through sports, held the Golda Meir Tournament for women’s soccer/football.

Nobody exemplifies the power of Israeli women more that former Prime Minister and icon, Golda Meir. Meir, an “olah” herself, was a trailblazer in many ways and it is in her memory and spirit that Tazuz and Project Max held the second annual Golda Meir Tournament for women’s soccer (football).

The “beautiful game” is the quintessential unifier.

“Sport has the unique ability to bring people together. It is a way to share a common love, to have fun, to compete, and to socialize – and it also has the ability to provide an outlet – both physically and emotionally. For the past 2 years, Israelis have suffered tremendous emotional trauma due to multiple wars and the fact that 48 (at the time of writing this) of our loved ones are still held hostage by an evil terrorist organization. In part, for that reason, I couldn’t have imagined a better time for Project Max to support the Golda Meir Women’s Football Tournament in conjunction with Tazuz,” says Eric Rubin, CEO of Project Max.

Rubin continues, “We were able to bring together about 50 young women from all over Israel, who were able to play the sport they love. They were given the opportunity to forget all that is going on around them and have a few hours where all they were focused on was having fun, bonding, exercising, and competing. It would also be remiss of me if I didn’t recognize that unfortunately, we as a nation, do not give the same resources, respect, funding, and opportunities to women’s sports. We all need to do our part to change the culture and attitudes in regard to women’s sports.”

Project Max’s mission is fighting racism, antisemitism, and intolerance through sports, leveraging advanced technology and the support of professional athletes. Maia Cabrera, an olah who plays for Maccabi Kishronot Hadera and the Israeli National team, is a proud Ambassador of Project Max.

Women’s soccer has not received the funding and exposure that male dominated soccer has and female players have fought hard to ensure that their funding is increased. It is a battle that they have won – albeit not on the level of their male counterparts.

Founded by an oleh chadash (new immigrant) from Mexico after moving to Israel as an international student, Tazuz is a sports and social club that connects people in Israel through recreational leagues, academies, courses, and community events. Tazuz operate in multiple cities, offering activities such as tennis, surfing, beach volleyball, soccer, and more — all designed to create meaningful human connections through sport.

“Tazuz was established primarily for international students, providing a community away from home where they can enjoy their favorite sports in an organized, friendly, and welcoming environment.”  Says Eitan Hirsch, the founder of Tazuz.

Naming a women’s tournament after iconic Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir was a natural fit.

Eitan continues, “The Golda Meir Tournament was created to bring together Israelis and internationals from different cities in a fun, amateur yet competitive soccer environment. This year, we hosted our second annual tournament. The idea started when I noticed that every week, over 30 women would come just to watch our men’s soccer league. We thought: Why should they only watch? They should be playing too. We first ran two women’s leagues, but soon realized many participants were looking for structured training rather than just competition. That’s how our Women’s Soccer Academies began — 2-month programs where women can train weekly with professional coaches to improve their skills.”

The academies were started first in Herzliya, followed by  Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and now have over 50 women actively training.

The Golda Meir Tournament brought together 35 women from various cities (6 from Herzliya, 9 from Jerusalem, 20 from Tel Aviv) for a truly unique and memorable event. Tazuz’s core mission is to foster connections across communities, empower women in competitive sports both in Israel and globally, and ensure every participant has an enjoyable experience. The Golda Meir Tournament perfectly embodies this vision.

“The tournament was hosted in the Maccabi Tel Aviv training courts, and we had the privilege of having Eric representing Project Max, who was the sponsor of this event and gave the trophy to the winning team, the Tel Aviv team, who took it this time,” said Eitan Hirsch.

Tazuz plans to launch more academies across the country that will aim to welcome more participants and strengthen connections across communities. Hirsch concludes, “Our goal is to encourage more people to play and to help the growth of sports—one goal at a time!”

With academies across the country and partners like Project Max, these ladies are set to be trailblazers in women’s soccer. Golda would be proud!

This article currently appears in the SA Jewish Report : https://www.sajr.co.za/welcome-home-now-we-can-exhale/

I don’t think a single person slept a wink in Israel on Sunday night, 12 October. You could feel a sense of hope mixed with trepidation descend across the country as we prepared for the day we had long hoped for – the return of our hostages.

On 7 October 2023, more than 250 of our brothers and sisters were brutally abducted as Hamas rampaged across southern Israel, committing a trail of atrocities. Many of them were murdered and their corpses taken hostage as a sick bargaining tool. Others were murdered in captivity. The living hostages subjected to horrific and cruel conditions. Each hostage is a hero, and a hero’s welcome they received.

For Israelis, the individual stories of each hostage is a part of our collective soul. They feel like members of our family – and they are. We know the story of our “Romeo and Juliet” – Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or – so cruelly separated as they were both taken into captivity. Noa’s arms stretched out to her love as she was taken into Gaza on the back of a motorbike is an image we will never forget. Daniel Perez, who fought so bravely and fiercely along with his team in their tank at Nahal Oz on 7 October. Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese student of agriculture whose fate was unknown until we had the devastating confirmation that he was murdered in captivity. Omri Miran, whose two sweet little girls greeted the moon every night until they could say “good night Daddy” in person. Elkana Bohbot’s five-year-old son, Re’em, had to be taken to kindergarten when school started an hour later than the other children because they had daddies to take them and he didn’t. Herut Nimrodi fought like a lioness for her son, Tamir, whose fate was also unknown until this week. Each one of them a universe.

For 738 days, their families, supported by Israelis, the Jewish people, and all of our allies fought like lions to scream their names, lobby, and to make sure that every corner of the globe heard our resounding message – bring them home now!

For 738 days, we hoped, prayed, shook the heavens, bargained with the Almighty, and anyone in power. We were brought to our knees, pleading, and breathed the fire of our relentless fight for our brothers and sisters. Our bravest and best have fought with all their might, and many have paid the ultimate price.

Now we can start to exhale. The healing process can begin. Our hostages aren’t just numbers or faces on posters. They are real people, our brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, husbands and lovers.

It’s impossible to put into words the sheer jubilation we felt on seeing our brothers come home and reunite with their loved ones. From midnight on Sunday, Israelis gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, anxiously waiting for the first sign of return. Then, the eruptions across the country!

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the country as one by one, we watched our brothers safe on Israeli soil in the hands of the Israel Defense Forces and then reunited with their loved ones. I could watch these reunions all day. Tal Kuperstein, standing for the first time to hug his son, Bar. Segev Kalfon’s wail of happiness to see his family. Twins, Ziv and Gali Berman, reunited after separation in captivity. Evyatar David and childhood friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal, frail but finding strength when reunited in hospital after their captivity. Lionesses Lishay Miran-Lavi and Einav Zangaukar reunited with Omri and Matan. Matan Angrest, summoning superhuman strength to attend and deliver a eulogy at Daniel Perez’s funeral. Eitan Horn and Eitan Mor with their families. Avinatan Or holding his girlfriend, Noa Argamani. Ariel Kunio and Arbel Yehud. David Kunio and his little girls. Rom Braslavski watching the sunset for the first time in two years. Elkanah Bohbot hugging his little boy. Alon Ohel playing the piano for the first time. Maksym Harkin pale but safe in the arms of his family. Yosef-Haim Ohana shaking the lulav and etrog, and Nimrod Cohen joking with his siblings. We cannot get enough of them!

The Israeli people have spirit like no other. Yes, there are times we are divided and fight bitterly, but nobody comes together as we do. The love that has surrounded our hostages and their families is like no other. To the many reading this who feel despair at the hatred we see on social media, focus on the love we have for each other. This is our promise, and this is why we have survived for millennia. We really are a nation of lions!

Finally, they are home! Israelis can breathe again. Though we can start to heal as a nation, we will also still carry the pain of 7 October and two years of war with us for generations. It won’t define us, but will walk alongside us.

At the time of writing this, there are still 19 hostages whose remains are held by Hamas. We won’t stop until they are all home for a dignified burial. So, while we exhale, we also know that there is still work to be done. Am Yisrael Chai!

War, politics, and propaganda collide. South African journalist Rolene Marks, reporting from Israel, joins State of the Nation to reveal what daily life looks like in a nation at war sirens, shelters, and constant fear. She breaks down how the October 7 attacks unfolded, why Netanyahu’s government is under pressure, and how South Africa’s case at the ICJ has shaken relations across the Middle East. A direct, unfiltered view from inside the conflict.