Like households of American Jews across our country, we have been glued to our television over the weekend as we watched the new, horrific war between Hamas and Israel unfold.

Our girls, ages 10 and 11, are too young to understand the historical events that led the world to this moment. But they know that they are connected to Israel through their father’s family. They know that we have deep ties to this — what must seem to them — mythical land so far, far away.

“Thousands of Americans have loved ones in Israel. I’m one of them.” That was the title of Jennifer Rubin’s opinion piece for the Washington Post this morning.

For so many families in the U.S., there is a cousin on a kibbutz, a retired uncle in a coastal community, a child at university, friends from Hebrew school days who work in the tech sector…

May G-d bless them and keep them safe. May G-d protect all human life there and everywhere. And may we all say a prayer for peace for all — all — our sisters and brothers in the Middle East and beyond.