At this time three years ago, I was not yet living in Israel for the second time. In fact - I hadn't even visited in 11 years, and the years I had lived here happily had receded into the background...into a place in the attic you forget about, when things in the forefront become too overwhelming for too long - that you simply forget - a time when you had found yourself, and a time when you had been happy.

Because just like in the early days when your grandparents came here from all over and built these communities that bring you so much pride - that is us, now. The world is squeezing us out - we felt it out there - the hatred of us and the hatred of you and the hatred of this tiny but incredible little country, the land of which is taking the impact of ballistic missiles - and we came - and we are staying.