Episode 8: "Killed or Kidnapped?" — A Nahariya Mom on Raising Kids Under Rocket Fire Since October 7th

Daniel Herz welcomes Ravit Steinmetz-Shemla, Director of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey's Israel Office and the Federation's point person in our sister city of Nahariya, for a deeply personal conversation about life in Israel in the nearly three years since October 7th. Daniel and Ravit reflect on what it means to live, raise a family, and lead a community on Israel's northern front line, just five miles from the Lebanon border.Learn all about how Nahariya became the new front line after the 60,000 residents to its north were evacuated, what daily life looks like with only seconds to reach a bomb shelter, and how a mother carries on while her sons serve in the IDF. Ravit shares her journey south to Nova, the long and painful fight to bring the hostages home, and the mental health toll a nation continues to face. She also dives into the profound sense of resilience and purpose that carry her and the community forward. As Ravit reminds us, it takes the whole Jewish people to raise a country.As an added highlight, this episode also spotlights the "Heroines of October 7" exhibit, which features fifty portraits honoring the women who defended Israel. Ravit helped bring the exhiibit from Nahariya to New Jersey for its U.S. debut. It is a moving and powerful conversation about courage, connection, and the unbreakable bond between Northern New Jersey and Israel.As usual, this episode is proudly sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey!Show Notes:Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey — https://jfnnj.org/Nahariya, our sister city / Israel engagement — https://jfnnj.org/advocates-and-supports-israel/The "Heroines of October 7" ExhibitExhibit event page — https://jfnnj.org/events/heroines-of-october-7th-art-exhibit/