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THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL
October 7th, 2023
BROKE ME
The SILENCE of my “Friends”
Devastated Me
The World’s Protests and Celebrations
Horrified Me
And So I Came Back
To Tell the Stories of Who They Were
and Who We Are


Shani Louk: A Legacy of Compassion, Love and Art
As I watched the young people at this beautiful event celebrating Shani through her artwork, I could only imagine their struggle to cope with such trauma - not just from the loss of Shani's incredible love and spirit - but to have to come to terms with her violent end.

Melanie Preston
Feb 14, 20246 min read


How my Heart has Been Breaking Through this Project of Mine, into 136 Families' Worlds
It had seemed like such a good idea, after 37 days of tears by myself in Charlotte. The families of the hostages had been on every...

Melanie Preston
Jan 16, 202412 min read


Fearful of Large Hezbollah Attack; Ha Tikva in Hostage Square; Ringing in 2024 With Rockets Over my Head
On Saturday night I walked from Jaffa in South Tel Aviv to Hostage Square, which took about an hour. I needed to meet the brother of one...

Melanie Preston
Jan 4, 20247 min read


Letter from a Fallen Soldier to his Parents; Murder of American-Israeli Hostage Judy Weinstein Confirmed
"Dear Mom and Dad, I love you very much. I chose this path myself. I've lived a good and interesting life. Nevertheless, I have never...

Melanie Preston
Dec 28, 20236 min read


Day 68 of a War that is Now Clearly on Multiple Fronts
Something unknown by many abroad but well-known in Israel is that as horrific as the October 7th terror attack on Israel was, with 1400...

Melanie Preston
Dec 13, 202310 min read


Incoming Rocket Sirens Blare on Highway; Forced to Exit Vehicle and Duck; Taking on Hamas
It's important to keep a routine as best as possible in Israel, despite the prevalence and randomness of sirens going off, and it was...

Melanie Preston
Dec 9, 20239 min read
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