Dallas, TX
Dallas Jewish community is contributing to healing after Oct. 7
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/4YLP456UDI4FYK66F2SZZYK3XY.jpg?ssl=1 "Dallas Jewish community is contributing to healing after Oct. 7")
Last month, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas invited nearly 50 leaders from the Dallas Jewish and Christian communities to travel to Israel to bear witness, speak with survivors and family members of hostages, and console a grieving nation. It was a powerful and riveting experience, in large part because of the already-close bonds that are shared between Dallas and Israel.
Some in our group arrived early or stayed late to spend time visiting family. For those of us with loved ones in and personal connections with Israel, the war with Hamas is not a remote conflict happening halfway around the world, but a real-time, daily trauma.
During our mission, we visited Mount Herzl, Israel’s version of Arlington National Cemetery. We moved somberly among the graves, noting men and women who died on Oct. 7, and in the days since, as recently as the week before.
We passed the grave of Ben Zussman, whose mother spoke to us on our first night in Jerusalem, and the final resting place of Aner Shapira, a young man who heroically sacrificed his life by tossing multiple Hamas-launched grenades out of the shelter that he and others crammed into, seeking safety from the terrorist onslaught. We gathered together to pay our respects to Binyamin Meir Airley, whose grandparents are beloved members of the Dallas Jewish community.
Connections between Dallas and Israel are myriad. Each week, many Dallasites participate in what has become a walk to amplify the plight of the 134 Jews, Christians and Muslims, many of whom are American citizens, still held captive in tunnels and parts unknown in Gaza.
Over dinner in Jerusalem one night, we were joined by native Dallasite Josh Lynn, a product of Dallas Jewish institutions Temple Emanu-el and Akiba Yavneh Academy. Later this spring, he will visit Dallas to amplify the close connections between Israeli and diaspora Jewry. He is one of several Dallasites who have proudly served the Jewish state.
For 25 years, the Jewish community of Dallas has grown a partnership with Western Galilee, including the cities of Nahariya and Akko. The latter is known for its important history as a city where Jewish and Arab citizens live together peacefully.
Our Jewish Federation has proudly supported initiatives that have improved lives for thousands of residents of the region, of all backgrounds. Notably, Western Galilee Medical Center, supported by the Dallas Jewish community, played a pivotal role in treating Syrian civilians affected by civil war across Israel’s northern border. It is now preparing its underground emergency rooms for Hezbollah attacks on Israeli cities in the region.
Using models established through this long-term partnership, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas has initiated a similar relationship with one of the kibbutzim devastated by the acts of terrorism perpetrated on Oct. 7.
The community of Zikim was targeted that morning by Hamas, with terrorists storming the beach from speed boats. Over an evening discussion with a young mother and her pre-teen daughter, we learned that, were it not for pollution that had made the beach uninhabitable, many of the kibbutzniks would have been celebrating the Simchat Torah holiday by camping on the beach. They would have certainly been slaughtered or kidnapped in staggering numbers.
For the next several years, through funding, resources, and personal connections, these partnerships will rebuild infrastructure, mend social bonds, and foster lasting connections. An early challenge will be to help community members achieve sufficient degrees of psychological safety needed to enable families to return home, even as they are quickly losing patience with displacement. However, despite all these challenges, hope shines through as the community looks toward rebuilding and restoring normalcy.
As this partnership continues to grow over the years, so will the relationships between the people of Dallas and Zikim. These connections create a sense of shared experience, allow pathways for empathy and assistance, and afford Dallas the opportunity to help heal a traumatized community.
Igor Alterman is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. Joel Schwitzer is regional director for American Jewish Committee Dallas.
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DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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