Winter Update

12/13/2025

17:00 hours UTC-8

Dear Reader,

     Finals are nigh and winter has come. As we enter the holiday season, I encourage you all to reflect on this past year. The highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies, times of joy and times of grief. We live in weird times, where one finds themselves grieving as they dance. For many of us, this has been reality for the past two years and is something we will live with for a while. Despite these complex realities, the following is something I have waited to say for a long time. It is with great pleasure, to state, for the first time in a long time, we are entering the first Winter with NO LIVING HOSTAGES in Gaza, the last 20 Living Hostages having been released in a deal on October 13th, 2025. As of the time of writing, One Hostage, Ran Gvili, remains in Gaza. I pray that he will be returned soon, so that he may be buried in dignity, honor and peace.

     When all Hostages return, the fight stateside will continue. Antisemitism continues to reek in campus halls across the country, and we will not stand idly by. Students should not need to worry about being treated differently than their peers just because of who they are. The past two years have been trying and taxing in ways previously thought unimaginable. Yet we must understand that we’re no longer sprinting, we’re in a marathon. The war we thought will be ended by Christmas, now looks more like one without end. This past year especially, has tested us, and tried our patience to the breaking point. As we end our year and begin a new one, and before I go back to studying for my finals. I wish to leave you to ponder two quotes. One from Tessa Veksler, and one from Elisabeth Houston, that she said to her son, Samuel Houston before he enlisted for the War of 1812. 

     “I have a lot of hope. My advice to Jewish students is to be brave and to fight for what’s right.” –Tessa Veksler

     “There, my son, take this musket and never disgrace it; for remember, I had rather all my sons should fill one honorable grave, than that one of them should turn his back to save his life. Go, and remember, too, that while the door of my cottage is open to brave men, it is eternally shut to cowards." –Elisabeth Houston to Samuel Houston, 1813

     What we do now will be judged by those after us. I do what I do not because I want to, but because I must. As much as I still can’t describe how I felt on that dreaded day, October 7th, I knew I needed to act. I know there are many who feel unsure, and if you’ve been observing, I see you, I was one of you. Your actions didn’t go unnoticed. I know there are many more who’ve begun being more attentive after Charlie Kirk’s Assassination on September 10th. So to the new observers amongst us, A word. 

     History has forced you into a position to note, remember. and recount. You’ve brought yourself to begin observing because you cannot live with yourself being idle anymore. Remember that many around you may not understand you, they may ridicule you, they may even try to ostracize you, however, remember there are birds like myself out there. Some more visible than others, but somewhere nonetheless. READ, read history and understand the major players around you, observations are kind of useless if you can’t contextualise any of it.  Understand there may come an event or incident that hits you harder than others, for me it was Tessa Veksler’s being targeted in her office, for you it may be something else. Regardless, when it comes across you, yes I did not scribble, when you feel that deep gut punch and churn, USE YOUR VOICE. You are feeling your gut churn, twist, and ache not for no reason. That only happens after you’ve done the research in history and observation and something you’ve witnessed, first or second hand, hits you senseless and you feel as if the hand of history is forcing you to act. I am not telling you to put a soap-box and immediately start ranting and yapping like it's nobody’s business, I don’t need you ending up in a straitjacket. However, find an outlet, whether that be writing open letters, op-eds, a blog, creating social media content, or setting up a table and chair, whatever is safest for you. Regardless, find an outlet – bottling up the pain of your gut churning and twisting will kill you. I won’t elaborate why I phrased it that way. Remember who you are, regardless of what others say of you. No one can ever strip you of who you are, so wear it like armor. We can’t change the fact that we’ll always be the Few, so be proud of it. Rather you be ridiculed and honored by history, than have history shut the door in your face. Lastly, if history ever vindicates you, especially in the most explicit and clear manner, it's not really something to celebrate, in fact it's actually quite the opposite. If the rot is clear to absolutely everyone, something has gone horribly wrong, and you may become a resource to aid others. You being an observer is the first step to what will be a complex, painful, and fulfilling journey. You’ll feel alone, feel your gut churn in ways you never knew possible, and, most times on campus, you simply have to learn to live with it. Just remember birds like myself are out there, maintaining a nest of joy in our dark times. Keep seeking, and you’ll find us. In dark moments, find the light. 

     So fellow students, we will soon be entering a new year. A new year means new beginnings, new hopes and importantly new goals. As we dance into the New Year, may we dance with those who can dance again, and dance for those who can’t.

If you are inclined, recite the following,

O G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

O hear us when we cry to thee, 

For those in peril on the Sea

For those bereaved loved ones of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice

For Ran Gvili’s bereaved family, yearning for Ran’s return

For those distressed in trauma and pain

For the students barely managing finals

O G-d, may you be the strength and shield of all who’ve taken this dark hour, 

and made it their finest hour

From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoever they go
O hear us when we cry to thee, 

For those in peril on the Sea

With that, I wish you

G-dspeed on all your final examinations

Chag Sameach, May you have a happy and peaceful Hanukkah

and if you observe, may you have a very Happy Christmas.

May G-d show his mercy on these 50 United States of America

and From these Campus Halls to the Western Wall, Am Yisrael Chai!

Your Friend in the Shadows