Sgt. Maj. Ben Kerido (Israel Defense Force Reserves)

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A Serious Warning

A large collection of both former and active law enforcement and government officials of all political leanings, including from the FBI, have recently emphasized that there is an extremely high-risk of major terror attacks to be perpetrated on American soil in the near future.  Former President Donald J. Trump strenuously declared that he believes that the likelihood that terrorists will strike within the continental United States is “100%.”  President Trump likewise predicted a massive surge in terrorist activity in the Middle East – especially kidnappings – merely three weeks before the attacks in Israel by Hamas’ army of terror on October 7th, 2023.

Accordingly, global antisemitism has increased by 235% since October of 2023.  And other faith-based institutions (in particular those who are supportive of Israel) are also at a significantly increased risk of attack.

As a combat non-commissioned officer in an IDF special forces battalion, I have served / am serving on both the front lines of the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese border.  I have also functioned previously as a US Department of Defense contractor, liaison to the US Department of Homeland Security, and community security organizer (Jewish and otherwise) on a national level.  I do not have any access to confidential or “top secret” Israeli or American intelligence materials.  However, I can say anecdotally that I firmly believe based on my “highly educated opinion” that there is an extremely high risk of terrorist atrocities being committed in the United States at some point in the year 2024, and probably within the next 3 – 6 months.

Be prepared!  I truly hope and pray that I (and dozens of other experts) are incorrect.  But even a small amount of foresight and preparation could mean the difference between life and death for you, your families, and your communities.

When terrorists strike, they often target faith-based institutions and/or vital infrastructure.  This includes, for example, synagogues, churches, schools, and hospitals.  The following document is a step-by-step plan to dramatically enhance the safety of your community.

Plan Highlights

Defensive Facility Hardening

The first step to ensuring that your community is safe is to harden your facility. The Israel Defense Force strongly adheres to this approach, and it is a cornerstone of Israeli security.  In fact, the horrors of Hamas’ October 7th attacks were only made possible by a shocking (and heretofore rather inexplicable) failure of our defensive measures in the region bordering the Gaza Strip.  At any rate, the concept is simple:

If you keep a threat out of your community, then they can’t harm you.

Every facility is different in layout, structure, etc., but here are a few considerations for defensive measures that can go a long way to keeping your community safe.

Internal Protocols

The best (and most expensive) security upgrades become completely meaningless unless the staff and members of a synagogue, church, school, etc., all utilize them properly. The most sophisticated alarm system in the world is utterly worthless if it is never turned on. This may sound obvious, but I knew of a school that complained about an incident in which an unwanted individual entered the premises just weeks after the school invested over $25,000 in a highly advanced system of reinforced doors, intercoms, remote-controlled magnetic locks, etc. So how did the intruder get in? The school staff felt that properly screening people with the intercom and buzzing them to enter was a hassle, so they instead propped the door wide open all day long with a brick. As should have been obvious, the problem wasn’t the facility hardening and high-end security system; it was the lack of adherence to even basic security protocols.

Thus, every community facility should establish reasonable and effective security protocols that are followed by all. Otherwise, expending money on defensive measures becomes meaningless. When developing these protocols, it is probably a good idea to consult with a legitimate security firm and/or your local police department (especially if you are on a budget). Most importantly, there should be strict guidelines for who can enter the building. It should be restricted to known members of the community unless approved by the local leadership (rabbi, rebbetzin, president, pastor, principal, etc.)

As a side note, it must be understood that many terrorist-type attackers are at least somewhat opportunistic and can be dissuaded even by visual deterrence. What that means in simple terms is that a hostile antisemite, for example, is far more likely to attack a synagogue that is left wide open without a care than a synagogue with fences, gates, cameras, and a security professional (or even a congregant) watching the door. In this context, a hardened facility and proper security protocols have a solid chance of not only physically repelling an assailant, they reduce the chances that a dangerous attacker will even consider your community as a viable target in the first place.

Terrorist attackers are often predators looking for vulnerabilities. Remove all visual signs of vulnerability, and they will often move on to another target (or even rethink their plans altogether).

Additionally, the community must be educated on what to do in the event of an attack. Schools conduct consistent fire drills for a reason; when an emergency occurs, chaos can be deadly. Develop a plan (best done with the help of a security consultant and/or police officer) and make sure the community knows that plan. Even just making sure that your community is aware of the emergency exits and the locations of fire extinguishers in the event that an attacker commits arson against the facility can mean the difference between life and death. Other concepts to be considered for an emergency plan include evacuation to “safe rooms,” i.e. places in the facility with heavy doors and solid locks where people (especially children) can be relocated in the event of an active shooter, to provide emergency first aid, and more.

Relating to the concept of visual deterrence, a suggestion for consideration is a visible security presence or patrol, as well as clear signage, e.g. “This premise is protected by armed security.”

Law Enforcement Relationships

This is a potentially highly effective (and very inexpensive or even free) means of dramatically increasing the safety of your community that is often overlooked. Most urban areas have police officers and/or other local law enforcement on active patrol. Reach out to your relevant police department and work to establish a solid rapport and relationship with your local law enforcement personnel, especially those patrolling the streets. More often than not, police officers are driving past your synagogue, church, school, or hospital just as a matter of their patrol functions. Upon invitation, they are often more than willing to stop by for a while. In many cases police officers pause their patrols and wait in an empty parking lot for 911 calls to come in. They might even be willing to wait for calls in your parking lot on occasion. The value of a visible police presence in your community, even randomly and sporadically, is immeasurable.

Additionally, requesting the police to stop by your synagogue or church during services is usually welcome by most law enforcement agencies. (A word of caution: don’t rely on the arrival of police officers as a replacement for other security measures, especially armed guards, since in my experience they unfortunately don’t generally show up at a precise time, or they might be distracted by an emergency elsewhere.)

As a “pro tip,” I would recommend making quality refreshments (like coffee, tea, bagels, etc.) available to local law enforcement officers to further incentivize visitations and a visible presence.  And it’s a nice way to give back in a small way to the protectors of your community besides.

To be clear, if you wish to build a relationship with your local enforcement agency for any reason, you must actively reach out to them. Generally speaking, they will not reach out to you uninvited. Most police departments have a community liaison and/or public relations officer, and that’s a great place to start.

Response & Reactive Measures

Before we get into a discussion of armed security, let’s look at some other vital response functions. I recommend that the following roles (and others as needed) be tasked to separate congregants (as your community is able):

A good practice would be for at least the “911 notifier” to have a cellular phone on them.  And for Jewish communities, this includes shabbat and yom tov (Jewish Sabbath and holidays). For Halachic (Jewish custom) considerations, one or more “emergency phones” could be used, which are simple “TracFones” or “kosher” phones belonging to the synagogue that have no purpose or functionality besides making simple phone calls. The idea is that this phone now becomes a pikuach nefesh (life-saving) device having no purpose other than calling 911 in an emergency, rather than a muksa item for checking Facebook or texting friends. (Note: I am not a rabbi; please check with your local rabbi or other relevant authority to ensure Halachic compliance.)

Armed Security

Often the biggest point of contention in a community when discussing security measures (besides financial burdens) is the notion of persons having guns on synagogue, church, and/or school property.  This is undoubtedly a complicated matter, but in light of the current threat, I unfortunately have no choice but to strongly recommend that all at-risk communities utilize an armed security team in light of the current threat.

An armed security force that is professionally contracted can be an enormous asset. If the right company is hired, then only highly-trained and fully-insured personnel will be sent to your facility. In the absence of a contracted armed security firm, then the best practice would be for a mature, responsible, and trained community member to be designated as the armed security officer who carries a weapon (open or concealed, depending on the local laws and facility needs). This person should be your most “tactically proficient” individual, such as a retired police officer, an IDF or US military veteran, etc.  If there is no such person present, then an individual who is both very mature and physically competent (such as a relatively young and healthy rabbi, pastor, president, board member, principal, etc.) should be tasked with acquiring the firearm permits and undergoing a training and safety program. Avoid giving the green light to a “wannabe hero, pretend cowboy” to be your armed community member, and be sure to check with your local and state laws to ensure full compliance. Firearm regulations vary wildly from state to state, and there are often very significant variations between carrying firearms in public as opposed to the private property of your facility.  When in doubt, contact an authoritative law enforcement representative or legal expert.

As stated repeatedly, it is extremely important that your armed security personnel be fully trained.  In addition to firearm usage, this training also includes ensuring that they are able to eliminate a terrorist threat in the safest manner possible, being very careful to avoid “friendly fire” and hitting a community member by mistake.  To be clear, I do not feel that the “solution” to this concern is simply not utilizing armed security.  The threat of unmitigated murderous terrorist attacks exceeds this concern.  But it should still be a paramount aspect of training for responding to a terror attack within your community.

Non-lethal weaponry, such as high intensity pepper spray and batons, can be of value.  However, in light of the current and unique threat, that is not my present advice.  In any case, tasers are a bad idea and not recommended at all.  Tasers are notoriously ineffective and difficult to use, especially on individuals with drugs in their system.

For instance, tasers have little effect on persons under the influence of Captagon, the “jihad drug” used by both ISIS and Hamas during their atrocities.  Even worse, in a hostage situation tasers can be easily turned against the user or other congregants to incapacitate them to easily facilitate kidnappings.

Firearms in a synagogue, church, school, hospital, etc., have a lot of community ramifications, including political. Without getting into all of that, allow me to present four case studies:

11 killed, 6 wounded. No resistance to the attacker until law enforcement arrived 14 minutes after the attack began; the SWAT team arrived nearly 45 minutes later.

1 killed, 3 wounded. The assailant abandoned the attack when confronted by an unarmed former US Marine and further fled when faced with resistance from an armed off-duty Jewish Border Patrol agent.

2 killed. Attacker neutralized immediately by a 71 year-old churchgoer who was part of their organized internal security team. More than 240 persons were present yet unharmed.

4 taken hostage. After a ten hour standoff, law enforcement stormed the synagogue and killed the attacker after the rabbi assaulted him with a chair at a vulnerable moment.

While my conclusions might be controversial, an anecdotal analysis of these types of attacks indicates that trained and responsible congregants with concealed firearms can and do stop attacks immediately. And a professional armed security presence seems to consistently prevent attacks from happening in the first place due to visual deterrence, etc. Those victim communities without some kind of armed security had no choice but to fight back at a severe disadvantage, and/or wait for an effective law enforcement response, which can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to ten hours. (And that’s a long time to be at the mercy of armed terrorist attackers and even rapists with guns, knives, explosives, or other weapons.) 

I strongly encourage all at-risk, faith-based communities (especially Jewish) to very seriously, carefully, and objectively consider the option of an armed security presence, in particular for the next 12 months.

Conclusion

Each at-risk, faith-based community is unique, and therefore the measures and best practices to be taken to ensure the security and safety of all members of that community are equally unique. Most successful strategies will incorporate the concepts of defensive protective measures, internal security protocols, relationships with local law enforcement, and an effective response contingency including armed security and medical care.

As a side note, I want to share my beliefs as a Torah-observant Jew that both tefillah (prayer) and unity are absolutely vital to our ongoing safety in the face of such dire threats.  My spiritual beliefs are that we cannot expect Divine protection from the Most High without beseeching Him for protection as well as treating one another properly and minimizing unnecessary division. 

Please reach out to your local law enforcement and/or a legitimate, qualified security consultant to discuss this matter further.  And while my ability to communicate freely is limited due to my ongoing service with the Israel Defense Force in combat operations, please also feel free to reach out to me for additional thoughts and comments.  I will respond as I am able.

Please feel free to circulate this security plan and bulletin as needed, attributing credit to Sgt. Maj. Ben Kerido (IDF-Reserves) and Intrepid Tower Publishing.

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Sergeant Major Ben Kerido shares real time, first person updates from the front lines of Gaza during Operation Swords of Iron.

Half-destroyed buildings lay strewn throughout a sea of dusty sand. Israel Defence Force soldiers — both active and reserve duty — held strategic positions throughout the Gaza Strip. The usual booming of heavy IDF bombardment had subsided in wake of the cease fire.  

On the front lines, the combat soldiers had mixed feelings.  On the one hand, we celebrated the return of each and every hostage safely back to Israel (or their country of origin, since Hamas indiscriminately took immigrant workers hostage as well).  On the other hand, the entire IDF — particularly the combat soldiers — was a rabid beast lusting to be unleashed to mercilessly destroy our terrorist enemies in a manner never before seen in history.  We hoped that at least Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government understood that the Moslem Arab world only respected power and strength.  

As primitive as it may seem, Moslem Arab culture and society generally defaulted to the strongest player in the room, no matter what.  Concepts like democracy, the value of human life, and other western principles were largely meaningless to them.  And so all dealings with the Moslem Arab world — military, political, or otherwise — therefore required an overt coupling with tangible strength and power to be effective.  

One of the myths of this conflict is that the Gaza population is helplessly neutral and haplessly caught in the middle, powerless to resist Hamas.  Similarly, various “humanitarian aid” and “charity” organizations falsely claim to be innocent in all matters relating to the conflict, and that they have no interest besides assisting unaffiliated civilians.  

That is patently false on both accounts.

Mosab Hassan Yousef, also known as “The Son of Hamas,” has stated anecdotally that 99% of Gaza whole heartedly supports Hamas and their barbaric violence.  And even Palestinian Arab media polls indicate that at least 70-80% of Palestinian Arabs approve of terrorist actions (even if they redefine it as “violent freedom fighter operations”.)

In that context the “civilian” population of Gaza (and often also in the Yehudah v Shomron region) openly applaud and even participate in these terrorist activities.  These so-called civilians spy and provide reconnaissance, give supplies, offer transportation, and volunteer to serve as human shields for Hamas.  And yet somehow they think that they can claim protected neutrality if any military action is taken against them or if they suffer unintentional collateral damage.

Even worse, many of the alleged “humanitarian aid workers” are notoriously involved. In fact, a recent report indicated that both UNRWA school teachers and Gazan doctors were actively hiding hostages on behalf of Hamas in their schools, hospitals, and even private homes — all full of children.

It may be a concept that is foreign to western minds, but the Arabs of Gaza are engaged in something called total warfare.  That means everyone from the armed Hamas militant to the seemingly innocuous civilian and even “neutral” aid worker is actively and intentionally waging war against the Zionist enemy.
The population of Gaza figuratively wants to have their cake and eat it, too.

This is our unfortunate reality that the anti-Israel news is fully aware of, but is always sure to keep their audiences ignorant of.

This is a completely volunteer project to get the word out about what is REALLY happening in Israel and Gaza that the mainstream media with their notorious anti-Israel bias doesn’t want you to know. Support our unfunded, out-of-pocket volunteer project and the marketing / social media advertising budget through the link below. Even a few dollars / shekels helps immensely and makes a huge difference.

And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

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By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido

Our convoy of Israel Defense Force hummers approached the torn-open security fence. All of Gaza spread out before us. Dust swirled around us as we pushed forward. Gaza was a wasteland of bombed out buildings and the drifting stench of dead bodies. On a good day the infrastructure of Gaza rarely exceeded the status of a third world country – except of course, for the luxurious homes and even mansions of Hamas officers who grifted off of humanitarian aid money with impunity. But all of that had been reduced to utter desolation. 

As the so called “Zionist war machine” pushed forward, our IDF special forces battalion had been tasked to secure key areas of conquered territory in [censored for security/Gaza] and my mobile infantry and reconnaissance company likewise did so and otherwise supported the efforts. Hamas snipers, mortar crews, and RPG teams still abounded in Gaza, and their ability to move through their tunnel system to other areas increased the threat level. 

Our platoon set up temporary defensive positions and an additional operational outpost in a half-destroyed home once inhabited by a Hamas officer and his family. It’s hard to describe the inside of these Hamas residences that double as operation compounds. By the time the Israel jets, tanks, and first wave of ground troops get through with them, the damage is severe. The house is seemingly a normal residence, but then we find the weapons alongside normal life items:

Bullets and baby bottles.

Kalishnakov rifles and cribs.

Bombs and baby diapers. 

It reminds me of a Hollywood movie set for a film depicting the home of a drug lord or crime boss. On the one hand the house seems like the residence of a normal family. But then just beneath the surface we find that the structure doubles as a headquarters for villany and filled with instruments of evil. And of course, the Palestinian Arab propaganda machine commonly known as “Pallywood” loves to take photos of one side of the baby nursery with half blown walls and destroyed toys. 

And then they scream and cry as they share the photos with the whole world, denouncing the “evil Zionist oppressor.” Little does the world know that just on the other side of the nursery (quite literally) sit stocks of military-grade weapons and explosives. And the same is true for the schools, mosques, and hospitals of Gaza. 

There is a quote attributed to former Prime Minister Golda Meir that states: “There will be peace in the Middle East when the Arabs love their own children more than they hate ours.” As I wander through bombed out schools and home nurseries filled with weapons and ammunition, I realize yet again how distinctively profound and accurate that statement really is.

And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

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By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido

As our IDF mobile infantry and reconnaissance company continued its combat support operations, now at [censored for security near the Gaza border], we encountered a gaggle of reporters. They surrounded our IDF brigade commander, who spoke to them through a military interpreter. 

“It’s important to know as we take you on a tour of the combat zone,” the IDF interpreter of American origin declared somewhat dramatically yet accurately from behind slightly flashy sunglasses. “The area still contains Hamas snipers and mortar teams.” He paused briefly. “We cannot guarantee your safety.”

The media personnel from CNN, the BBC, Fox News, and many of the other “big legacy news outlets” hung on to every word. And then the brigade commander and an IDF entourage entered the Gaza Strip. I watched the news reporters with a raised eyebrow. Why? 

Because I knew that they would see the same things that I saw: schools storing weapons; mosques housing mortar teams; hospitals doubling as terrorist headquarters. 

But would the media tell the truth about what is really happening in Gaza under Hamas rule?

Some would, but many (most?) of the news outlets would lie. They knew the truth – that Hamas is a terrorist organization rivaling both ISIS and the Nazi SS for murderous barbarity and that the Israel Defense Force operated humanely as a military force, to a fault even. 

Instead of relaying the truth, however, many of the major news outlets would spread the propaganda and falsehoods of Hamas with hateful, antisemitic, impunity. The lies of supposed “Israeli war crimes” and “Zionist genocidal oppression” of the Palestinian Arabs truly is the “blood libel” of the 21st century.

And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

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By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido

Gunfire erupted throughout the shooting range at [censored for security]. Paper targets were torn to bits, small piles of rocks splintered, metal planks dinged, and soda cans bounced down the desert range as bullets slammed into them. As a lead designated marksman, I honed in my red dot long-range scope, clicking the adjustor caps to ensure that my optics were properly “zeroed in.” By the time I was finished, I could hit my target with grouping the size of an American quarter. Previously my special forces battalion and Mobile Infantry & Reconnaissance Company in the Israel Defense Force reserves had been engaged in protective operations at [censored for security / relevant to the Gaza front]. 

Being mobile, we jumped as directed to provide extra layers of vital security and support for crucial operations and indispensable infrastructure. It’s nearly impossible to properly describe here in a simple format what it’s like to observe, support, and participate in a war. Day after day Hamas and their terrorist allies fired rockets and mortars at us. Hour after hour we ran to the local bomb shelters. In theory we had a mere fifteen seconds to reach the shelter. Occasionally the warning came after the bombardment had finished. 

At one point on our way to training along a main highway in an enclosed troop transport Gazan militants fired mortars at a nearby kibbutz. The night was illuminated with the clusters of explosions; the force of the blasts bounced against the windows. During our support operations, the IDF returned fire and commenced with a heavy counter-bombardment. Incessantly our artillery, tanks, and mortars fired at select targets. By day we watched gunship helicopters launch Hellfire missiles less than a kilometer (half a mile) in front of us. By night we heard the screeching of Israeli Air Force fighter-bomber jets soar overhead before they dropped their massive payload on a terrorist target in Gaza. 

Giant mushrooms of fire erupted, followed by a corresponding deafening blast. In one case Israeli forces struck [censored for security / a highly-flammable target]. An enormous pillar of fire rose in the night sky, burning for hours without any satiation. After several days of additional training, including weapons calibration, target shooting, urban warfare, and casualty first-aid / evacuation, we received a new set of orders. I cannot say much about those directives, only that we would be involved in the conflict in a much more active way. We prepared our equipment. We checked and re-checked our weapons and supplies, making sure to have such essential items as ammunition, extra batteries for night vision optics, warm gear, and water. 

It’s a funny thing to go into a war. It’s an even funnier thing to go further into a war after having been in a war for over a month. What should we think? How should we feel? Is this merely the same thing as before? Is this something new? All in all spirits are high. When I was younger, the attitude amongst the troops was more one of testosterone-induced enthusiasm. But I think a different feeling pervades us in this conflict. First and foremost, there is a clear since of duty that exceeds even previous displays thereof in my fifteen years or so of IDF service (mostly in the reserves). Here in the Israel Defense Force, we always feel that we are protecting our homes and loved ones directly. After the horrific atrocities of October 7th, 2023, that feeling is stronger and more tangible than ever. 

It seems to me that there is another feeling that is eminent among the IDF ground forces. It’s a burning, consuming feeling. I think the only way I can describe it is a unique combination of fury and lust for revenge. And I don’t mean the type of revenge that you might see in a Quentin Tarantino movie. I mean the type of emotion that drives you, that takes over your soul, that brings you to a place to mercilessly destroy your enemy not because of what they might do to you and your family, but because of what they already did to your extended family – the Jewish people. And make no mistake. Hamas has emphasized publicly more than once that they will continue indefinitely to perpetrate one unspeakable, genocidal atrocity after another against us after another – both in Israel and beyond – until every last one of those murderous monsters is destroyed. 

I think the hardest part for me is leaving my wife behind at home. When we are involved in deeper operations we don’t always have the ability to communicate with our loved ones – at least, not nearly as often as we would like. She gets anxious and worries. (How can we blame her?) But under normal circumstances I like to check in every so often, even if only by sending her a simple heart emoji to let her know that all is fine and that I will talk with her more later when I am available. It may sound funny to say, but this is my first war as a “married man.” In my previous service during major operations I was single. 

I had the motto that I was “immortal until I die” and “invincible until I get shot.” It’s a different matter when you have a wife anxiously waiting for you to return, when you have a home and family to build when all is said and done. A popular mantra of radical Moslem extremists – especially the shahid who embarks on a suicide mission of so-called “martyrdom” – is “We love death the way that you love death.” Perhaps in one sentence that is the difference between the Jewish people (especially in Israel) and the Palestinian Arabs (especially Hamas and other terror organizations). We prioritize life – even theirs (I dare say to a fault sometimes, perhaps). They prioritize death. Or, perhaps more accurately, the elites prioritize the deaths of the brainwashed peons while they skim off of international aid money and hide like cowards underground, or even flee gleefully to Qatar or wherever else while the “commoners” die. 

General George S. Patton delivered a famous speech to the United States Third Army in 1944 immediately prior the allied counter-invasion of France. He famously declared: “No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” I think that’s my new mantra. We are not going to win this war by dying for our country. Instead, we are going to make those poor dumb Hamas bastards die for their pretend country that doesn’t even exist… and their radical theocratic fascist ideology. And then I’m going to go back home to my beautiful wife and live the wonderful life that the Most High has blessed me with… while the enemies that I encountered vainly search the afterlife for their promised seventy virgins. With the help of the Almighty… may it be so. Lock and load.

And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

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By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido

The sun had already dropped below the horizon, ushering in Shabbat, or the Jewish Sabbath. I have to admit, though. Here in the Israel Defense Force it doesn’t feel much like Shabbat. One of my favorite aspects of Shabbat is how quiet and tranquil my community becomes. Indeed, it seems like even the local stray cats embrace the concept, lounging lazily in the sun and waiting for leftover chamim (cholent, or bean and beef stew) to be thrown out into the nearby dumpster. 

But this Shabbat of the Torah portion Lech Lekha (October 27-28) was far from tranquil or quiet. The first and primary stage of the ground incursion into Gaza by IDF troops in order to further annihilate Hamas had begun. And, correspondingly, our mortars platoon and the rest of the Israeli armor and artillery forces in the region began a very heavy bombardment. The barrage was brutal… jarring even. 

The bombing started in the middle of our evening tefillah, or prayer service, to welcome the incoming Shabbat. At a certain point during the recitation of the poetic Lekah Dodi, “Welcome my Beloved (Shabbat),” we turn around and gaze behind us. And in this case we faced both the artillery as well as Gaza. The normally uplifting melody was punctuated by brilliant flashes of ominous orange light followed by deafening booms. 

Similarly, it was as though the explosions themselves answered the recitation of Kaddish. “Yitgadal – Boom! – Yitkadash – Boom! – Shmei Rabbah – Boom! – … May [the Almighty] mercifully make peace for us – Boom! – and all Israel – Boom! – Omaine.” – Boom! – It seemed oddly ironic – even oxymoronic – to request that the Most High bless us with peace in a time of warfare. 

But perhaps that’s a hidden message that can be drawn from this unique Shabbat experience. The Torah tells us at the beginning of Bereishit (Genesis) that the cosmos was filled with darkness and chaos, and then the Almighty created order and ultimately gave us the gift of Shabbat HaKodesh, the Holy Sabbath, by “resting” on the “seventh day.” Sometimes tranquility first requires strength. Sometimes peace first requires war.

And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

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The post Israel at War: War and then Peace appeared first on Intrepid Tower Publishing.

Ben Kerido / From Israel with Love

The State of Israel is under attack. On October 7, barbaric Hamas terrorists broke through the fence with Gaza, brutally tortured and killed more than 1500 innocent people and took over 240 men, women, and children as hostages. In the hours following the attack, Israel launched a campaign to rid the world of the evil terrorist organization. Since then, dozens of antisemitic protests have taken place across the world calling for both the death of Israel and the death of America. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, if the State of Israel falls, the rest of the western world will be the next target of Hamas. In such moments, it is paramount that we connect with the Almighty Creator through prayer.

Join us as we pray for the State of Israel

In traditional Judaism, we have a practice of chanting and reciting Tehillim (Psalms) as a prayer. The concept is that we can align ourselves with the intense, heartfelt words and raw, tangible emotion of King David (or other authors). And in that mode we present our request to the Most High. We also receive encouragement and rebuild our hope, striving to trust wholly and completely in the Holy One, Blessed Be He. Please help us pray for strength of the Israel Defense Forces and for the security and protection of the State of Israel. Ben Kerido, who is serving in the IDF, will recite Tehillim (Psalms) near the front lines with Gaza.

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Tehillim (Psalm) 46

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The post A Prayer for Israel on the Front Lines of Gaza appeared first on Intrepid Tower Publishing.

By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido

One of the most important rules of warfare is: Know your enemy. For nearly seven years I helped teach psychological warfare to the United States military through the Department of Defense. I specialized in curriculum and training programs elaborating on Middle Eastern culture and the unique mindset of radical Moslem and/or Arab terrorists.

If I were to only teach one aspect that would shape the foundation of foreign policy and military operational guidelines it would be this: Moslem and/or Arab societies only respect one thing — Power. They don’t value Western ideals like democracy or even the inherent sanctity of life. Indeed, they see such perspectives and values as weaknesses to be exploited.

With that context in mind, we can see how and why the Biden administration has failed time and again in regards to foreign policy and military procedures in the Middle East. At best, first Obama and now Biden have followed a path that kicks the can down the proverbial road and emboldens America’s Moslem enemies.

These are the five greatest failures that directly led to the empowerment of Hamas (and especially their sponsors, Iran), and that have resulted in massacre, atrocities, and a major war:

1. Reinstatement of US AID funding for the Palestinian Arabs. In 2018 President Donald Trump cut all funding to the Palestinian Arabs, noting that US taxpayer dollars were invariably benefiting various Palestinian Arab terrorist organizations, including Hamas. Similarly, the bipartisan Taylor Force Act was passed by the US Congress in 2018. This law prohibited any American funding to go to Palestinian Arab entities as long as they supported terrorism, especially the “pay to slay” programs in which imprisoned or “martyred” terrorists and/or their families receive cash stipends.

In 2021, the Biden administration reinstated hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Palestinian Arabs. According to an excellent investigative report by the Washington Free Beacon, however, Biden & Co. were fully aware that this funding would indirectly or even directly fund Hamas and other terrorist organizations. So much so, in fact, that Biden administration officials requested sanctions waivers and other “get out of jail free cards” in order to proceed. Similarly, in 2022 it became apparent that the “pay to slay” funding had continued despite commitments to the contrary.

US aid did not cease, however. And even now AFTER the horrific attacks by Hamas the Biden administration is pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in additional aid to the Palestinian Arabs in both Gaza and the West Bank. The simple indisputable fact is that Biden & Co. are knowingly and illegally funding Hamas and their vile terroristic plans, even now. And this funding is perhaps the greatest factor of Hamas’ survival and success. (American political commentator Mark Levin recently wrote an excellent piece elaborating on these and other factors called “Biden is Sabotaging Israel and America.”

Sergeant Major Ben Kerido

2. Obama’s JCPOA, or “Iran deal”, and Biden’s attempts to return to that failed pipe dream Throughout much of his administration, President Obama butted heads with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a “deal” to ostensibly prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In reality the “deal” provided Iran, the world’s greatest sponsor of terrorism, with billions of dollars in assets (including even pallets of cash flown in). In exchange, the production by Iran of weapons-grade uranium (i.e. nuclear capabilities) would supposedly be delayed somewhat, but not halted.

President Trump withdrew from the “Iran Deal”, calling the agreement “a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made”. He further stated, “It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will.” Although the sanctions and diplomatic pressure by President Trump were crippling for Iran, Biden & Co. dropped those measures and instead attempted to return to a new version of the JCPOA “Iran Deal”… and failed. Thus, Biden let Iran off the hook, and the Iranian regime was emboldened to pursue both a nuclear weapons program and global terrorism sponsorships (like funding, training, and supplying Hamas with weapons) with absolute impunity.

3. The provision of $6 billion in “ransom payments” to Iran In a mind-boggling “deal” to release five American hostages, Biden & Co. recently offered in exchange both five Iranian prisoners and a bonus of $6 billion dollars! Donald Trump predicted several weeks ago that this outrageous payout would further motivate the kidnapping of even more hostages. (Coincidentally, President Trump’s statements parallel the wisdom of the great Jewish sage Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, also known as the Rambam or Maimonides, from over seven centuries prior.).

President Trump and much of the Republican Party has decried the alarming arrangement as a primary factor in the funding (or at least the enablement) of the Iranian-sponsored Hamas attacks. As such, Congressional Republicans are working to refreeze the $6 billion en route to Iran, while Biden and his Democratic Allie’s are pushing back vigorously to ensure Iran still receives the money… even now.

4. The Democratic response to the assassination of Qassem Soleimani In January of 2020, President Trump ordered the hit on Iranian terror mastermind Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was a top commander of the Iranian IRGC and Quds Force that supports terror or like Hamas and Hezbollah. As one of the world’s foremost terror sponsors, Soleimani was personally responsible for the murder of hundreds of American soldiers and the killing or displacement of countless thousands of others, mostly civilians.

The Democratic political machine, namely Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, et al, strongly condemned the killing of the Iranian terror villain. They insisted that President Trump should have allowed Soleimani to live despite his active participation in attacks on American military and political targets. Why? Biden stated that he feared the Iranian response. And Schiff stated, “The American people don’t want a war with Iran.” There are few things more empowering to a terrorist state like Iran than their enemy emphasizing that they are afraid of them.

It should be noted that the supposed “major retaliation” by Iran never came, presumably because they were deterred by President Trump. In contrast, Iran is more bold and brazen than ever… after years of cowering appeasement by Biden & Co.

5. The disastrous withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Indisputably one of the greatest failures of the Biden administration is the catastrophic withdrawal of American military personnel from Afghanistan. Biden abandoned the Afghan nation to the Taliban and left them over $7 billion of state-of-the-art American military weaponry. Indeed, after two decades of fighting, the Taliban was in much a better state than before the American military operation.

Both Hamas and their partner, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (also sponsored by Iran), celebrated the American downfall and praised the Taliban. A statement from Hamas declared, “The demise of the American occupation and its allies [in Afghanistan] proves that the resistance of the peoples, foremost of which is our struggling Palestinian people, will achieve victory.” It’s no coincidence that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched a surprise attack on Israeli military and civilian infrastructure that paralleled the Taliban takeover in many ways, including the taking over cities amidst barbaric rape and murder as well as a focus on theft of both American and Israeli manufactured military weaponry.

As much as Biden and his cohorts try to whitewash or flat-out deny the obvious truth, the simple fact of the matter is that an impudent, childish, and perhaps even corrupt reversal of President Trump’s highly successful foreign policies has resulted in a swift destabilization of the entire Middle East, including unprecedented tragedy and atrocity in the one and only Jewish State at the hands of terrorist fiends. Indeed, Donald Trump brought unimaginable peace; Joe Biden has brought barbaric war and bloodshed. And it’s clear that Biden and his allies have absolutely no intention of changing course in the slightest, despite the chaos and destruction that this trajectory has already wrought.

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And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

To support us, click here to buy.
For more information, including to see how you can get a free copy, click here.

The post Israel at War: Why an Israeli Defense Expert Blames Biden for Hamas’ Massacre of Israelis appeared first on Intrepid Tower Publishing.

Sergeant Major Ben Kerido shares real time, first person updates from the front lines of Gaza during Operation Swords of Iron. The following post is written by his wife, Sarai.

“Did I not command you, be strong and have courage, do not fear and do not be dismayed, for the L-rd your G-d is with you wherever you go.” Yehoshua (Joshua) 1:9

Throughout the past 2 weeks I, like all of us, have found myself struggling to grasp and process the terrible and devastating situation that we’re in. I go from processing the attacks on October 7, to processing my husband leaving, to processing my fear, to processing sadness, and the circle continues. And when I think about all of it, I am reminded of the morning that Ben deployed.

We were packing up all of his stuff at 2 a.m. and it hit me that he was going to be gone and that I was going to be a nervous wreck. Up to that point, we were in so much shock by what had happened, that I hadn’t had a chance to process the next steps that needed to be taken. I said to him “I don’t want you to go.” He hugged me and I cried and I thought to myself “this is so unfair.” And in that moment I wished that someone else could go instead. I wished that it was someone else’s husband packing up in the middle of the night to go into a war zone.

And then it hit me. There is no one else. This is OUR country. This is OUR land. These are OUR people. When Hashem gave Israel to the Jewish people, He didn’t say “okay, here you go. I’m going to give this land to you and someone else is going to go in and conquer it.” That’s not the way that it worked at all. When the Israelites entered the land of Israel thousands of years ago, Hashem said to them “Be strong! Be courageous. Trust Me. Keep Torah. I will be with you.”

He didn’t say “if it gets hard, let me know and I’ll send someone else in to do it for you.” No. This has always been our land to protect, defend, and conquer. There is Hashem and there is us. There is no one else. So after that realization, I began to think to myself, yes. This is unfair. And, yes. This is hard. But this is our duty as Jews to fight for and protect the land of Israel. Our home.

Our homeland that we longed to return to for over 2,000 years. After all those long years we fought for our right to return to our home and won. Today there is a new war to fight. So now, we need to do as Hashem told us all those years ago when we first entered Eretz Israel. We need to be strong and courageous. We need to trust in Hashem and keep the Torah. We need to trust each other. We need to protect and defend our home. Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel….live.

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And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

To support us, click here to buy.
For more information, including to see how you can get a free copy, click here.

The post Israel at War: Be Strong appeared first on Intrepid Tower Publishing.

Sergeant Major Ben Kerido shares real time, first person updates from the front lines of Gaza during Operation Swords of Iron

The Israel Defense Force Hummer convoy rumbled and bounced along a route near [redacted for security].  Our special forces battalion, and especially my Mobilized Infantry and Reconnaissance company, had been deployed not far from Gaza.

Farmland mingled with forests of acacia and eucalyptus trees.  The once fertile hub of kibbutzim and moshavim (Jewish communities) and agricultural infrastructure now lay war-torn and desolate.
Cars lined the roads, windows shot out.

Other vehicles brought out of Gaza or stolen by Hamas terrorists lay smashed and charred.
The large mechanical gate of a kibbutz had been ripped off its track and tossed aside.
The ammunition-filled magazines for AK-47 rifles lay forlorn and scattered.
The parachute and motor from a paraglider device used by a Hamas terrorist to infiltrate Israel could be seen strewn across a set of shrubs.

Even hand grenades from Hamas militants could be found, abandoned by their now deceased owners.
In one area a motorcycle — a favorite mode of transportation by Hamas operatives — leaned against the wall of [redacted for security / vital IDF infrastructure], along with a collection of RPG anti-tank weapons.
The region was deserted of civilian life.  All the Israeli Jews had been killed or evacuated.  And all of the terrorists (hopefully) had been eliminated.

Sukkot (booths) still stood — lopsided and damaged — in the yards of many Jewish homes, a testimony to the murderous rampage that occurred on the final days of the recent Jewish holiday.
Gazan militants continued to launch missiles into Israel.  Their fiery tales soared above me and a whooshing sound followed.  The terrorists also fired mortars at military and civilian structures closer to Gaza, including our base.  Incessantly the code “Purple rain” sounded over the loudspeakers.  We only had a matter of seconds to get into the nearby bomb shelters.

Our own mortars platoon began a heavy barrage on [redacted for security] in Gaza.  The mortar vehicles rocked with the deafening boom of the outgoing shells.
My platoon received a mission.  We were to guard and protect the team tasked with processing the bodies of at least five dead terrorists.

It was gruesome; the stench was terrible. I did not envy in the slightest the IDF soldiers who had the unlucky job of pulling their rotting corpses out of the bushes and sand dunes.
Grimly, though, I considered us lucky.  A sister unit had located and then been tasked to process two other bodies:
A Jewish mother and her five year-old child.
I continue to scan my sector of fire as the dilapidated corpses were processed.

One of my colleagues in arms, Sergeant Dan, addressed me.
“Keep the flies off of you,” he advised. “They are the same flies from the dead bodies.”
He then notified me that our sister platoon specializing in mortar warfare had successfully killed an enemy mortar squad of four terrorists inside of Gaza.
Good… this time Hamas could deal with their own corpses.

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And this is certainly not my first combat operation in the Gaza Strip and the Yehudah v’ Shomron region (also known as the West Bank). Drawing from my own experiences and the experiences of others, I incorporated much of what really happens in the Gaza Strip and during IDF operations in our full-length novel, The American Holocaust: Early Tomorrow Morning. It is also known by its free promotional title, Let’s Go, Brandon! – The Novel.

To support us, click here to buy.
For more information, including to see how you can get a free copy, click here.

The post Israel at War: Desolation appeared first on Intrepid Tower Publishing.