2025-03 Israel

I am in the airport waiting for my plane to take off. 1 year ago at the same time, I left for Israel. At the time, Israel was in the middle of a war. I volunteered to work on an IDF army base and on an MDA ambulance as a physician eventually staying for 2 months. I didn‘t know what to expect. Now I do. I loved the experience. At the time I knew that I would go back but I was not sure when. After watching the events of the past year, it became obvious to me that the ‘when’ was going to be ‘now’.

This time I volunteered to work on the IDF base for 2 weeks and then spend 2 weeks on an MDA ambulance as a paramedic rather than a physician. MDA is not officially taking foreign physicians now but with my contacts, I was able to secure a place on an ambulance.

I have written to all my friends and relatives in Israel and should be able to visit with all of them.

I had a busy year since returning from Israel in May. I spent 2 months renovating my 3 boats. I suppose that one could ask if I really need to own 3 boats. But that is another question and another discussion. I played 80 games of hockey. I raced my sailboat. I am on the Canadian National Triathlon Team Age Group 75-79 and did the World Championships for Canada in Torremolinos Spain. I did a motorcycle trip and visited my friends in France last fall. In the winter I skied 34 days, teaching skiing on Fridays and working with the Ski Patrol on Sundays. I wrote about all these adventures in my blog.

I will fly with Air Austria, landing in Vienna tomorrow and then on to Tel Aviv. I will be on the beach tomorrow afternoon. I have 2 days off in Tel Aviv staying at the same hotel as last year. Most of the volunteers stay at the hotel. It is very easy to meet people who come from all over the world. They all come from highly intellectual backgrounds so the discussions around the dinner table is always high level.

We had a cease-fire for a few weeks and everyone was hoping that it would hold. Hamas refuses to give up the hostages without being allowed to hold onto power. This is unacceptable to the Israelis and hence the bombing campaign started yesterday. J’entre dans la guelle du loup.

When I told people that I was return to Israel, I receive a very positive response. I sent out email invitations to friends and family and received over 50 emails of encouragement. I am happy.

I have lived my entire life in Canada and have never personally, until recently, experienced any act of antisemitism against me..
My great grandparents came here and made lives for themselves. My grand parents came here and made lives for themselves. My parents were born here. My father spent  6 years in the Canadian Army fighting for freedom and democracy. Of the 21 young fellows that my father trained with, 9 came home. My father was in a truck as a corporal and had 2 drivers. He lost 4 drivers.
I was born here. My children and grandchildren were born here.

The contribution to society by Jewish people can not be compared to any other race or nationality. Michael Dell is Jewish. A number of executives of Apple and Microsoft are Jewish. If the BDS movement wants to desist from Jewish companies, let them stop using computers. Waze is an Israeli GPS. Don’t use it to protest Israel and get lost. Nvidia makes games. Don’t play them. Many medications were developed in Israel. Don’t take them and use natural medicines. The USB is an Israeli invention. Just write on paper and mail letters. Don’t watch Hollywood movies because they are nothing but Jewish propaganda. Jews make up 0.2% of the world population and have received 22% on Nobel prizes. The list is endless.
I never thought that I would see what I am witnessing now. What kind of world am I leaving to my children?

If you had told me on October 6 that I would be going to war, I would have thought that you were crazy.
On Oct 7, I made the grave decision to go to war. I spent 4 weeks on an IDF base and 4 weeks on an MDA ambulance. I was bombed twice. I treated 100 cases, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, heart attacks, choking, and suicides. I was often 1km from Gaza. I trained 74 years for those 2 months.

People asked me if I was ever afraid. Never! If there is speed or danger, I get exhilarated. I once asked a young girl about the war. She replied, ‘We did not want or ask for the war. We have confidence in our army. We have confidence in ourselves. We are not afraid.’ After 3 weeks in Israel I adopted the same reasoning. Israel stands alone. They will never trust or allow any country to be responsible for their security. If you read my blog you may have noticed that at the beginning, I talked about the Israelis doing this or that. After 3 weeks I changed the noun, ’the Israelis’ to the pronoun “we”.   

Will I return to Israel in the near future? That all depends if Hezbollah ‘invites’ me. I myself have decided on a ‘red line’  which if crossed, would force my hand for an immediate return. My finger is on the trigger. My contribution however small it was, was not negligible. I could leave for Israel with 7 days notice.

During the 8 weeks I renewed acquaintances with my 4 cousins and their families, one of whom came to Canada for a visit. It has not been easy for us in the diaspora. Although I have not personally experienced any direct antisemitism, I have observed anti Israel demonstrations on a weekly basis. I recently attended an Oct 7 memorial. There were 1000 students present in front of McGill. It was very sad. There were speeches and everyone sang Hatikva and Jerusalem (Yerushaliam). I also attended a memorial service in Hampstead Park.  There were 4000 people present. One lady who had lost her son at the Nova festival spoke. Another young woman from the kibbutz that was attacked also spoke. It was very peaceful. At the same time, there was a pro-Palestinian march from Concordia University to McGill. They broke windows all along Sherbrooke Street. They climbed the Rodrick Gates at McGill, spray painted the buildings and broke windows.  Finally the police were called and used tear to disperse the crowd. Good for them! Their old chant was ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.  Can any of them name, which river and which sea? The latest chant is ‘we don’t want  2 states, we go back to 48’. Do any of them know what was decided by the UN in 47?

I am 75 year of age. I will not live to see the end of this. My children will ask ‘how could you not see this coming?’ My grandchildren will say ‘why did you do nothing to prevent it?’ I have no answer for them.

I am in the 4th quarter of my 4th and final quarter of my life. The world is a lousy place.  I am glad that I am leaving it soon. Hoping to hear from you.

Brian
brianmorrrismd@gmail.com

All

All my bags are packed
I’m ready to go
I’m standin’ here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin’
It’s early morn
The taxi’s waitin’
He’s blowin’ his horn
Already I’m so lonesome
I could die
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you’ll wait for me
Hold me like you’ll never let me go
‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane
Don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go