Remembering the Holocaust in 2026 amid renewed threats to Israel - opinion

Apparently, there's a trend going around where people, mostly celebrities, are sharing stories and photos about things that happened in 2016. Initially, I missed what this is all about, but I'll play along and share what I wrote about that was happening in my life and in Israel on this day in 2016.

"Good evening from the Jewish Capital, it is Shabbat, and it has been a very, very difficult and heartbreaking week in Israel.

This week, the whole nation tragically learned this name: Dafna Meir. She was slaughtered in her own house by a 16-year-old Arab teenager. The fact that a young man would do such a horrendous thing seems beyond belief, but then again, maybe it is not so unbelievable at all.

The background of this teenager set the stage for what he did and why. He was a typical young man who did what he was told, which included being brought up to believe it was his Muslim duty to kill Jews.

In the aftermath of his deed, he was captured alive and unharmed. The irony of his murder trial and sentence is that he can enjoy good food in prison, get an education, and his family is paid very well. The irony doesn’t stop there. When he is released from prison, he will get a welcome fit for a king, and starry-eyed young Arab girls will line up, hoping to be the one chosen to marry this intifada-tainted "hero."

NO, ladies and gentlemen, this is not a dreamy or romantic movie script; this is a horrific and brutal reality of terror and genocidal warfare here inside Israel. It is simply mind-blowing, and the details of this callous murder mock every single victim in the history of this nation.

Additionally, it brutalizes the sensibilities of every single citizen of Israel as well, because of the hateful, murderous messages these terrorist villains aim DAILY at every Jewish soul in this great nation.

The father of this terrorist spoke to Arab media saying how proud he is of his son; it is simply disgusting beyond words I can think of! I believe all of these people who embrace such beliefs should all be deported, and for those perpetrating such crimes against humanity, they should face strict and unbending consequences that compel them to realize that due punishment is not so appealing when they commit these horrific attacks.

I tried several times to make a video to speak about this, but I simply cannot compose myself enough to speak without crying, or other attempts where I just could not find the appropriate words to describe how I felt. My emotions choke out the words, because they are so raw with pain!

Despite this, I managed to visit the Western Wall today on Shabbat, where I poured out my broken heart and prayed for Dafna's family. Afterwards, I made a video that I shared earlier today.

Jews are still being slaughtered just for being Jews in their own homeland, and yet again, the world doesn't seem to listen to the voice of civility or reason at all. This lack of action or any compassion in response, hints that the world's silence speaks loudly of condoning these horrible acts!

While I sat at the Kotel today, I saw and heard several women crying. I just began to think again, "When will the world hear the cry of a Jewish mother who is grieving for those slain or slaughtered so senselessly? Are there so many cries and tears from terror attacks in the Holy Land, that such news is commonplace? Is the frequency of these vile acts so mind-numbing, that such horrors have simply lost any "news value," as if people around the world act like they don't care about this?"

Here is the ugly reality and truth in 2016: What the world seems to care about, is continuing to beat up Israel both socially and economically (the BDS onslaught), while the EU is rewarding the Arabs and jihadist Muslims with millions of dollars while they continue with killing the Jews!

This is sickening behavior that reminds me of a dark time in Jewish history some 75 years ago in Germany. What has really changed from then until now? But my friends, it's much more than that.

It's cruelty and barbarism beyond words, its Antisemitism, and it is undiluted hatred against the Jewish people, plain and simple. Can you tell I am angry?... Because I am, and I was going to say that it's such an awful joke, this irony that continues to this very day.

So, it's even more important that all good people around the world out there who have a conscience, to speak up against all of these things, and speak up for the Jews that are still being killed in their own homes, the streets, and the cities and towns they call home.

They need YOU to show them that you DO care about them, and that you are with them, that you pray for them, and that you hear the cry of yet another Jewish family having to say goodbye to a loved one who was brutally and maliciously slaughtered simply for their heritage as Jews.

That is why I came here to Israel, to represent your love and concern for the Jewish people. PLEASE, help me by raising your voices, giving where you can to offer your gifts or talents, so that we become a thundering voice for Israel that the world can no longer ignore! I am sending lots of hugs and blessings from Jerusalem, and from my house to your house:

"SHABBAT SHALOM!"

It's now 2026 and my thoughts go back to that horrid terror attack which I reported about extensively, of a young Jewish mother brutally murdered in her own house with some of her children at home, it was beyond horrific. Was any of this ever mentioned in mainstream media?

Since then, I have reported about a multitude of horrid terror attacks within Israel. The brutal murder of Daphne Meir was one account that really broke my heart, and then came the October 7th massacre just over two years ago.

While I am writing this, and thinking about this precious woman who was murdered just for being Jewish, I'm also processing the death of my own father, he just passed away in Denmark. It is a complicated situation, one which has caused grief and trauma to resurface.

This is especially difficult for me to deal with for a very good reason. All of us who are living in The Holy Land, are once again, "waiting and preparing for another round of warfare with the Islamic regime in Iran," while we still carry the scars of the last 2 years of war and personal trauma for each of us.

The US military is building up its presence in The Middle East in a mighty way, after tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed in Iran by their own brutal regime.

So, this brings us to another irony: these same, ignorant Israel-haters and hypocrites around the world who protested in the streets against Israel's just war against the Hamas terrorists network who murdered over 1200 people, are the same ones who remain silent against the atrocities happening at this very moment in Iran.

As I'm writing this blog today, The Commander of the United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper just arrived in Israel for meetings with the cheif of the IDF and senior officials amid heightened regional tensions, also arriving in Israel is White House adviser Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Is the US about to launch a massive military attack against the Iranian regime?

Is Israel going to attack first like what happened last time, against Iran’s nuclear and weapons program?

If this does happen, Iran will most likely retaliate by firing hundreds or thousands of ballistic missiles at US targets and against Israel and is it then likely that the Houthi terrorist regime, along with Hezbollah will join in the fray?

I am personally saying this as a clear warning, because things can become very serious, and sooner than we might imagine. My hope is for this blog to be published quickly, so once again, the people of Israel - including me - will have sufficient time to run for our lives to bomb shelters, if and when Iran brings such an attack against Israel with thousands of missiles.

My thoughts and endless prayers are with all the brave people of Israel, and the thousands of soldiers who have already been called up to serve for hundreds and hundreds of days away from their precious families. I see wives who are alone with their children who have been traumatized more than enough since the horrific onslaught on October 7th and 2 years of war.

While I'm writing today, this Shabbat is over and we have enjoyed the quiet of Shabbat while the IDF is on high alert..

Our hearts in Israel are with the brave people of Iran who have courageously come against the brutal Islamic regime. With the thousands of people killed in a number of horrific ways, may freedom come to all of you very soon, and see this reign of terror become a distant memory.

A senior Iranian official stated that the Iranian regime will treat any attack, "as an all-out war against us," ahead of the arrival of a United States military aircraft carrier strike group and other assets being currently deployed to the Middle East region.

"This military buildup - we hope it is not intended for real confrontation - but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran," said the senior Iranian official. "This time, we will treat any attack - limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it - as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this," the official said.

So yes, everything is up in the air right now, a situation we have been in before. However, with the brave people of Iran rising up, it's an entirely different scenario now, something that we will see America and Israel most likely act on!

Let us pray for the leadership of the United States of America and Israel, for wisdom to do the right thing and make bold decisions and finally, to pray for the American and Israeli military.

They are our heroes and frontline defenders against our common enemies that hate freedom, terrorize and suppress innocent citizens, and war against our beliefs.

As this escalation continues, KLM and Air France have suspended weekend flights to Israel and the Persian Gulf region amid rising Iran tensions. This is sad, because we are loving the thought of seeing all of you, the wonderful people from all over the world who return to Israel as tourists to walk here in The Holy Land. Please - never stay away, your presence is a big encouragement and blessing to every one of us!

We are only a few days away from International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On January 27. 1944, Allied Forces liberated the first Nazi death camp, freeing thousands of Jewish prisoners, and tolling the bell for the end of the demonic Third Reich.

In the face of this monstrous degree of atrocities leveled against Israel we are still fighting enemies that wants to annihilate the Jewish people like we saw on October 7th with the onslaught of Hamas, proxies of Iran, and now we are on the brink of a potential new round with the regime in Iran.

We must say Never Again to the unrestrained evil that is raging around the world against the Jewish people.

For such a time as this, we must not lose focus of the lessons learned 81 years ago, as the doors of Auschwitz and other death camps were swung open to reveal the horrors of depravity that took place.

Your voice, your prayers, and your determination to watch over the people of Israel is vital.

Can you be counted on to stand with Israel and the Jewish people, will you be a Watchman on the wall for such a time as this?

Meanwhile, The One who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,