In early 2023, one Sunday morning when I was half awake, a word deeply impressed itself on me. It was a word I didn’t think about often, but somehow it churned in my mind so much that I shared it at church that morning, not even knowing why I should. The word was antisemitism. I wasn’t aware of any large-scale antisemitism—at least not in my community or even in the U.S. at large. 

Fast-forward to October 7th, 2023, and the horrific attack by Hamas against Israel. Hamas brutally killed around 1,200 people in that attack, and the world was horrified as Hamas celebrated. But Israel had barely started its campaign against Hamas to ensure this would never happen again when the pendulum of public opinion swung. Rage against Israel and the Jews flooded the news.

I witnessed antisemitism rising in America like I had never seen before. At first, it was largely from the left. Then, as time went on, certain popular voices on the right, like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, drew large swaths of their followers into the cause. 

I had largely forgotten about the word I had received in early 2023 by this time, but it greatly bothered me to see this tsunami in America—especially on the right. I didn’t expect better from the left. I voiced my concerns occasionally on social media and eventually brought the subject into a YA mystery novel I was writing called Plain Pursuit.

Somewhere in the middle of this, I remembered I had essentially been warned about the coming storm and had not taken it as the warning it had been. But even though I was ignorant, God had planted a seed and a passion in me to defend the Jewish people in whatever small way I could, as the world yet again arrayed itself against them.

So, in case you’re wondering, that’s why you’ll see me passionate about this subject to the point of weaving it into a mystery book and talking about it personally whenever I have a chance.

And it’s why today, on the third anniversary of those dreadful attacks against innocent Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists, I honor those who gave their lives in the fight against radical terrorists and those still mourning the loss of their loved ones.

May God bless Israel and may America continue to bless her as well.