Suddenly by land, air, and sea, terrorists launched the deadliest attack in Israel’s modern history. The brutality and loss of life in this attack was even worse than Yom Kippur 1973. More Jews were murdered on that day than on any other day since the Holocaust. Moreover, the murder, torture, and kidnappings of innocent civilians shocked Israel and the world as terrorists took over towns and villages in southern Israel. We in Israel are heartbroken and struggling to stomach the scenes of violence and evil that are emerging. Israeli police and military responded but in the initial fighting were overwhelmed with the scale of our enemies’ attack. Israel quickly declared a state of war, and responded by calling up reserves for a military response both to repel the attacks from Hamas in Gaza but also from Hesbollah’s attacks in the northern border of Israel. Many of our friends, relatives, and coworkers have been conscripted and we are already hearing reports of people we know lost in battle. We also have brothers and sisters in Gaza who are in great danger at this time.