Fifty years ago today, Air France Captain Michel Bacos showed the world what true moral courage looks like.
When Flight 139 was hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists and flown to Entebbe, the non-Jewish passengers were eventually released. Bacos and his crew were also offered their freedom.
However, Bacos, who also served in the French army under DeGaulle, refused to leave his Jewish passengers. All his crew also refused, without exception.
Instead, they chose to remain alongside the 94 Jewish hostages, fully aware of the danger they faced. As Bacos later said, abandoning his passengers was simply "unimaginable."
Days later, they were freed in the legendary Israeli rescue mission, Operation Entebbe, led by Yoni Netanyahu, who would die in the battle.
For his extraordinary courage, Bacos was honoured by both France and Israel. Yet his greatest legacy was not the medals he received, but the example he set: that decency, duty and humanity must never yield to terror or antisemitism.
Michel Bacos was a true hero. May his life, his courage and his memory forever be a blessing and an inspiration.
This Israeli band got millions of views in the last week doing Brazilian covers of classical music.
I really think they want to cancel Israeli artists because they're jealous 😜
🎥 Amitai Kurtz on Instagram
Over 700 rabbis from all over the United States have signed an open letter to Zohran Mamdani to apologize for his rhetoric.
The New York City mayor had recently referred to AIPAC as "monsters" and "dark money", familiar rhetoric that endangers Jews.
Politicians are using AIPAC as a focal point for their campaigns, hoping to earn easy votes at the cost of Jewish safety, the very people they may represent.
Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum planned a beautiful holiday in France for himself and his family.
He used the email he always used, which contains the title of rabbi.
The owners of the holiday rental sent him a long message, asking if he "condemns the violent actions of the Israeli army."
Even if this man were Israeli, a random citizen of a country is not responsible for its military policy. And besides, he's not even Israeli, just Jewish.
The email went on to state "If that is not the case, we are unfortunately unable to offer you accommodation."
Do you think those without "rabbi" in their email names received the same questions? I highly doubt it.
Credit: Jewish Chronicle
🚨 General Jack Keane gets it.
“The Iranians cannot make a claim dealing with Lebanon. They don’t own Lebanon.
The major lesson from October 7th that the Israelis have learned is you cannot permit proxies on your border to have the capacity to attack.
And that is what is happening.
Hezbollah was building up infrastructure in the south and they conducted over 2,000 rocket and drone attacks into Israel.
In the last 48 hours, they’ve still been going on.
That’s the reality.
Israel cannot permit this to stand.
This is about the sovereignty and existence of the state.
Remember, the objective of Iran and its proxies is to destroy the state of Israel. Not defeat its military. Make it such a volatile security situation that people don’t want to live there.
What is happening in Northern Israel?
All of the towns and villages have been evacuated. Kids aren’t going to school. They’ve moved into hotels.
They’re not living in Northern Israel.
Israel can’t let that stand.
They HAVE to fight back.”
And then @kilmeade caught the tell:
“I was a little surprised the vice president was going after Israel yesterday at the podium more than he was going after Iran.”
This is Israel! Today, more than 100,000 people from around the world took to the streets of Tel Aviv to celebrate in the annual Pride Parade.
This event is the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world, serving as a proud display of the openness, freedom, and diversity that define Israeli society.
Today, thousands of New Yorkers will march in celebration of Israel.
Not because they agree with every policy or every government, but because Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people, the world’s only Jewish state, and a source of pride, refuge, and belonging for millions of Jews.
This year, that pride matters more than ever.
At a time when Jews are being harassed, attacked in the streets, and told to hide or apologize for who they are, choosing to march is an act of courage. It is a declaration that Jews will not be intimidated and that the Jewish state will not disappear because others wish it would.
The mayor of New York City has cowardly chosen not to attend, and that sends a message. To him, I would say: leadership means showing up for all New Yorkers, including the Jews who call this city home.
To every Jewish New Yorker marching today, and to every ally standing beside them: thank you.
Your support is felt in Israel. Am Yisrael Chai.
In London 🇬🇧, the barista who served a Jewish couple a cappuccino with a swastika has been fired.
Harassing Jews at the risk of your income… I’m not sure how people think they’re doing anything smart or brave.
On May 14, 1948, exactly 78 years ago today, the State of Israel was established in the ancestral and indigenous homeland of the Jewish
people.
Happy Birthday, Israel! 🇮🇱
Pictured: David Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv, moments
before delivering Israel’s historic Declaration of
Independence.
Photo: REUTERS
The world keeps telling Jews to shrink themselves.
Apologize less.
Hide more.
Be quieter.
No thanks.
The Jewish people have brought unbelievable light into this world - and I’m done apologizing for that truth.
Jewish joy is resistance.
Support the voice that refuse to stay silent: https://t.co/9pRHzHiTNQ
#JewishPride #Israel #JewishJoy #Antisemitism #AmIsraelChai
A PROUD JEW AND A PROUD ISRAELI
Israeli Tai Baribo, a member of the Israel national soccer team, plays professional soccer in the USA for the DC United team.
WATCH to see him very publicly recite the Shema prayer and thank God after scoring his third goal in one game last week…
🕊️HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Israel and Lebanon begin direct peace talks, at the level of their ambassadors to the United States.
The whole world must demand Lebanon make peace with Israel and dismantle Hezbollah as part of that.
Former hostage Alon Ohel spent over two years in Hamas captivity — starved, beaten, abused.
Now free, he’s giving back: volunteering to pack food packages for families in need ahead of Passover.
He could be anywhere, resting. Instead, he’s here helping others.
A true hero 💜