My name is Rivka Sonts and I am a Russian-born Israeli American. About 20 years ago, my family moved to the U.S. from Israel to reunite with the rest of the family. In 2002, I enrolled at John Jay College. Things turned around because of anti-Zionism. On campus, for the first time, I saw how poorly the other students thought of Israel, how they had no idea that Israel was not occupying land. The State of Israel got its sovereignty in 1948 after immediately fighting for its survival, and many more wars with its Arab neighbors after that. Not to mention that the land of Israel was given to the Jewish people over 2,000 years ago by God.
Fifteen years ago, the rhetoric on college campuses and the streets by those who were against Israel was that anti-Zionism is very different from antisemitism, but it’s not. It has been clear as night and day in the past year since October 7. Every time there is a war in Israel, antisemitism has been on the rise. The ridiculous chanting “From the river to the sea” is very antisemitic because it means that the Jews have no right to live in Israel, our ancestral homeland, and that the Jews have no right to exist.
Experiencing anti-Zionism has let me move forward on my Jewish identity search. While growing up in Israel among Jewish peers, I was a proud Israeli but only traditional in my Jewish observance. Coming to the U.S. and experiencing antisemitism led me on this journey of reclaiming my Judaism as a Torah-observant Jew for the last 15 years. Meeting Dov Hikind while working at the New York State Assembly helped shape my proud Jewish identity. I have internalized that to know where we are going as a Jewish nation, we have to know where we are coming from, and those answers are found in the Torah.
After October 7, our hearts were broken, especially the families who had lost loved ones, and as a nation we are still mourning and in pain. I asked myself what I could do instead of what I could not do.
When I first heard Yair on Arutz Sheva, his message resonated so much. When I met him in person in March at a conference, I offered my help. Yair is a hero. He risked his life to fight on October 7 to free Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak. His message is so uplifting and filled with emunah and strength. The Jewish nation is a miracle and the return to Israel is a miracle. He will be speaking around the country from California to New York/New Jersey and Florida for more than 20 congregations and events. For any press inquiries or private appointments/sponsorship opportunities with Yair, please feel free to reach out to me at 347-598-9448.
Rivka is the PR director at The Park Med Spa in Highland Park, and a longtime Israel activist. She worked at numerous Jewish nonprofits and with public officials. She resides with her children in Highland Park.
