Israel 2026-07

Israel 10,

July 13, 2026,

Hi Everyone,

After completing my blog on the terrace yesterday, I went down to the beach for my daily athletic event. I swam to the breakwater twice, a distance of 1k and then ran 5k on the beach. Some people have told me that they have been stung by jelly fish so I will have to be more careful with my swim. I wear swim goggles so I should be able to identify one before getting stung…

I purchased a day ticket that allowed me to go back and forth from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for 24 hours as well as to take unlimited trips on the local bus and light rail system in both cities. I met my cousin, David, in Jerusalem in front of the City Hall. The trip to Jerusalem takes 45 min and the light rail trip takes 10 min. I first met David 50 years ago in Trout Lake at my grandmother’s cottage and renewed acquaintances with him 2 years ago. He was a rabbi in the Israeli Air Force and now does IT research for the government. We are diametrically opposite on the religious spectre and still get along superbly. We went to an upscale restaurant in an upscale mall and had a wonderful dining experience together. I broached the political subject of the solution to the current crisis hoping naively for incite or an answer. Unfortunately at the present time there is none. I personally don’t think that Israel will strike Iran first unless Trump asks them to do so. On the other hand, Iran is striking Middle Eastern countries at will on a daily basis. I am scheduled to fly back to Canada on July 22. I have made a decision to stay and work with MDA if rockets are flying in Tel Aviv before I leave.

Today I worked an early shift with MDA. We had multiple false starts that were cancelled before arriving. The 1st case of note involved a 44 y/o worker how had a heart attack and cardiac arrest on the 5th floor of a building under construction. The white, BLS ambulance arrived first. The patient was in ventricular fibrillation requiring shocks twice. We learned of this before arriving, by the web. We ran up to the 5th floor with all our heavy equipment. They don’t let me carry anything probably believing that it would be too much of an effort on my part. They are right, 5 floors at full speed is enough cardiac exercise for me.

On arrival, the patient had partially regained consciousness. We did the usual routine, IV, EKG, oxygen, blood sugar, BP, pulse, fluids etc. We placed the patient on a back board for precaution. 6 of us then carried the patient down the stairs to our ambulance. We rushed the patient to the hospital with sirens blazing.

The 2nd patient was a small child with a possible anaphylactic shock from peanuts. This was not really the case but we took the patient to the hospital with appropriate monitoring for precaution.

I met several people at the Maxim daily cocktail, one of whom is a French-Israeli author and film maker of note. He has a Wikipedia page describing his accomplishments. That is my next goal. We exchanged emails and formed a WhatsApp group. Perhaps this will help me to advance my book sales.

Love,

Brian

2025-03 Israel

Israel 1,

Mar. 19, 2025,

Hi Everyone,

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.

On a different note, I am on the Canadian National Triathlon Team. I am currently in Torremolinos, Spain to do the World Championship Triathlon, Sprint, Age Group 75-79. You can follow me on the web site. You can also follow me on my blog.   gobriantravel.com.   
I will be in Torremolinos for 1 week. Afterwards, I rented a motorcycle and will tour Andalusia. I will fly to France for the 3rd week to see my medical school buddies. We have been friends for 52 years.

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