Brian Blum

If I were to require more treatment – if the cancer were to come back or something new cropped up – would the question my doctor never asked a year ago become relevant this time?

Would I have preferred to be knocked out by general anesthesia so I wouldn’t feel a thing? Sure, but total body sedation for such a short procedure would have been both overkill and dangerous.

Alana Newhouse, editor-in-chief of Tablet, claims that a rudderless, identity-emaciated Western world sees the success of the Zionist nation-state and wants its societies to be more like Israel.

Future historians would deride this as the “Pharaoh Constant” – a civilization of unbroken empire, universal slavery, and global misery.

The US entered the war in Iran not just to aid Israel, but to counter China’s influence and protect global strategic interests.

Jerusalem residents faced a Shabbat like no other amid incoming missiles from Iran.

Zionism means more than politics - it’s identity, home, and belonging in Israel.

The concept of the reality slap spoke to me as soon as I read the line “a serious illness.” It has since helped provide context as to why the last year has been so tough for me.

For all of us, our jobs will certainly change with the ascendancy of the prompt. For writers, intensive editing will become as important as any initial out-of-the-box composing. 

Six Senses Shaharut, located in the Arava desert, became the perfect setting to celebrate survival, breathe deeply again, and appreciate the rare gift of simply being here.