I have tried so hard to keep politics, faith, and religion far from this blog site out of respect for those with different views. I do so by channeling my thoughts on those topics via different outlets and forms of media. I’ve realized, however, that I’m not fully sharing my identity and purpose with myself or those reading this, and therefore this blog is in some ways misleading.
This blog is to provide at least a taste of this, but it is not going to be any form of advocacy for either Israel or Judaism—you can turn elsewhere for that. Every reader has their meaning and purpose—whether it is family, faith, nation, or otherwise. I must also declare that I abhor all forms of racism or discrimination—whether based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, orientation, or otherwise. My posts across platforms consistently show this.
A huge motivator for me is Viktor Frankl’s words on meaning:
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
Core to my meaning and purpose are my family, country, and faith.
My Family
I’ve written about my family before—they are my rock, support, future, and everything.
My Country
I chose to leave the UK—a country I hold with deep affection and gratitude—to live my and my wife’s dream (and occasional nightmare :-)) as a Jew in the land of biblical figures like Abraham, Rachel, Joseph, Ruth, Moses, Miriam, and King David. I wanted to help build and develop this nation and raise children to grow and defend it.
After nearly 18 years, which have been blessed and immensely satisfying (if challenging), I look back on this choice as one of the most important we have made (probably only behind choosing to propose to and marry my wonderful wife, although I still regret having chosen to propose outside a kosher butcher in London!).
Israel gives back through excellent healthcare and social services. I’m immensely grateful to all who support me. I’m a proud Israeli, though not naive, and remain conscious of its challenges and needed improvements.
My Faith
Each of us has a different faith (or none), and I respect this. I’ve met compassionate and kind people of all beliefs—Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, atheists, and more.
For me, believing in God provides immense and ultimate meaning—not driven by selfish thoughts of an afterlife, but because it gives me a reason for my place in the world. It’s not random. I don’t know why God chose this path for me, and I wouldn’t have chosen the PSP path (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a neurodegenerative condition), but this belief helps me weather the storm and find purpose. It gives me courage to think positively and beyond myself (most of the time :-)). I am here for a reason, and I can’t waste this opportunity.
I chose to become religious around age 11 or 12, and its practice—especially its ethical message of compassion, integrity, and care—has been foundational. Interestingly, as PSP progresses (the walker I mentioned yesterday is now paid for and en route, marking a new phase), it has deepened my faith, bringing comfort that might seem counterintuitive. I feel spiritually at ease, though I have much to reflect on and improve. My frustration targets those who act terribly while claiming it’s in God’s name, not God Himself.
Why Write This?
A blog that omits these central themes doesn’t fully reflect who I am or why I fight. I fight for my family, nation, and God’s will and instruction.
I don’t intend this to be any form of missionizing or Israel advocacy—but I felt it important to share. Each of us must find meaning and purpose through our own avenues or beliefs. As Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks said: “We will make peace only when we learn that God loves difference and so, at last, must we. God has created many cultures, civilizations, and faiths but only one world in which to live together—and it is getting smaller all the time.”
