Opinion

In mathematics, two lines are orthogonal if they intersect at right angles.  More generally, two concepts or situations are orthogonal if they do not substantially overlap.  In Israel today, many worlds seem to be orthogonal, either existing separately from each other or having cross purposes.  This is true of the relationship between much of the media and the government, the attempt of Israelis to maintain normality in daily life, and the view of Israelis and most of the World about the hostages and Hamas.

A story has been brewing in my mind ever since I returned from a life-altering journey. My name is David Shakhmoroff, a 24-year-old first-generation American with roots tracing back to Uzbekistan, and I am here to take you on a ride through history, memory, and self-discovery.

Since October 7, the question was when - not if - Joe Biden would cave to his leftist base on Israel.  This did not happen overnight, but it was always inevitable.  Biden has spent his entire career blowing in the direction of the prevailing political winds, and Democrats around the country are openly signaling that they want to dump Israel by the side of the road in favor of the Hamas terrorists who committed the greatest terror attack on a Western nation since 9/11.  

In the midst of making a mishloach manos delivery run this past Sunday, I drove by my local public library, which had signs outside about early voting. Since I’ve turned 18, I never missed an election, and my reward for being a “prime voter” is a sizable amount of mail, texts, and phone calls. How was I not aware that New York’s presidential primary is happening this week?

There is an expectation of many in the West that Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and his cohorts, or their successors, will gain control over Gaza, and in place of Hamas. Some western leaders express the view that in the aftermath of Israel’s war against Islamic terror in Gaza a Palestinian state should be established.

The biggest news from the floor of Congress was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s speech telling Israel to have new elections to get rid of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This was more than a despicable speech; it was an unprecedented interference into a democratically-elected government of an American ally. It’s also a statement from the Democratic Party to American Jews: “We don’t care about your interests.”