Ms Rachel

A special moment caught with my bestie, Rahaf from Gaza - a double amputee due to an airstrike. @israa7117 If you are silent because you have somehow convinced yourself Rahaf and the children of Gaza are not like other children, you are making a tragic mistake. A mistake that is costing us our humanity and is hurting all children of the world. If killing, bombing and maiming children in the thousands has no consequences, what does that mean for our children’s future? What does it mean about us and our hearts and souls? I know people would not watch some groups of children be killed, starved, maimed and orphaned by the thousands and be silent. Let that sink in. It’s because they are Palestinian. I have worked with 3 year olds from so many different backgrounds. They all love to learn and play. They are all adorable. They all want to love and be loved. They all love to be silly. People have sent me messages saying that they are sorry but I’ve made a mistake - the children of Gaza are not precious and innocent. I read these messages in shock. God, help them see your precious children with your eyes. Thank you for helping me see every child as you do - equal, precious and worthy of all the love and care in the world. If you think Israa, her mom, cares any less for her precious babies or feels less pain watching them suffer, you have made a tragic mistake. Israa watches her boys in Gaza on FaceTime with the same pride I look at my son with. She aches with the same anguish I would if I couldn’t feed him, hug him, hold him, protect him. We are both teachers. We both are passionate about helping children. We are the same. Debumanizaing a whole culture or group of people is how people are staying silent and allowing this to be live streamed, day after day. Never in this day and age did I think we’d experience something like this and have a choice our grandchildren will study. To speak when it’s hard and there are consequences and it’s painful because it’s right or to watch it happen, silent. #gaza

Dear Leaders - be so ashamed #gaza

Coming Saturday morning! #msrachel #potty

Talking about being with Rahaf, a 3 year old double amputee from Gaza and her mama, Israa, who are separated from their brothers and dad who are still in Gaza. One minute I was pretending to be bunnies with Rahaf and the next minute I was video chatting with her two adorable, young brothers in Gaza, as her mom, Israa, held the phone up for me. I watched Israa look at them proudly, like I look at my son. It was a drastic snap back into reality. I imagined myself holding the phone in the US with my daughter, now a double amputee from an airstrike, away from my son in Gaza, unable to help him. I felt like I was going to throw up and came back into the moment. “I hope to meet you one day!” I happily said, in my classic Ms Rachel voice but with tears in my eyes.  Israa tells me that they no longer eat while video chatting with her sons. Her sons are so hungry and have so little food. They look about 5 and 7 years old. About my son’s age. “Is there anything I can do to help her boys get here?” I asked another mom, who is also Palestinian and was translating for us. Tears streamed down her face. She said she is so touched that I want to help but nothing can be done. I flash back to a moment on a zoom when she also cried and said “Thank you for seeing our children as human.”  I ask Israa what she did for work. She answers that she was a teacher and taught math. I think about how Israa and I are both teachers. We both love our children with all of our hearts. We want the same thing for them. But my son will have dinner tonight, a story and snuggle with me, school in the morning… and hers won’t. If the situation was the other way around, what would I hope Israa would do for me? #gaza

A few weeks ago, I shared Rahaf’s story - a brave little girl from Gaza who wished for the simple joys of childhood: to comb her hair, to go back to school, to stand when she prays. Today, I’m so grateful to share that Rahaf has been safely evacuated and is now receiving the medical care she urgently needs. This wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of my friends at @thepcrf who worked on getting her the necessary approval. Also, a special thanks to all the other entities and organizations who worked on the different parts of her evacuation and treatment. There is still a long road ahead, but this is a powerful step forward - and a reminder that hope is alive. Rahaf, we’re still standing with you, praying for your strength and healing. I can’t wait for the day you’re back in school, healthy and able to follow your dreams. This is what you and the children of Gaza have always deserved. Thank you to everyone helping make this possible. Speaking out together makes a difference. There are so many children who need us to keep advocating so they have the same chance as Rahaf. We will not be convinced that some children don’t deserve to grow up. #gaza #msrachel

Meeting Rahaf from Gaza 💕

Doll for Rahaf from Gaza #msrachel #gaza #rahaf

Nothing will convince us that some children don’t deserve to grow up #msrachel

When you’re sick, baby is sick (pink eye and cough) and your other kid is sick… sometimes a moms gotta do what a moms gotta do! #msrachel #mama

No person, especially a child, should have to risk their life for food. Let the aid in.

My heart ❤️

Behind the scenes and fun facts! Hope you’re enjoying the potty special! #msrachel #potty #pottytraining #toddlermom

“They’re not like us.” That’s how 50,000 children have been able to be wounded or killed in Gaza. That’s how basic human rights like food, water and medicine are being kept from CHILDREN. But it’s a lie. They are the same. One day everyone will see. Everyone will know the absolute preciousness and sacredness of their lives and will have to face that they were silent. This is me and Rahaf’s mom video chatting with Rahaf’s sweet brothers in Gaza. I think about them every day and text Rahaf’s mom about them. “How are the boys?” It sounds like a text I send a friend whose kids are here. But her answer couldn’t be more different. “I haven’t been able to reach them for days.” “They are so hungry.” “They ask me when they can be with me and Rahaf again every time.” “They ask if we have bread.” Can you imagine? My other mama friends talk about school wrapping up, picky eaters and send pictures full of joy and laughter. It upsets me so much when my religion is used to justify cruelty. Jesus said the most important commandments were to love God and love our neighbor. He didn’t mean only neighbors of the same religion. He said that he is with “the least of these” meaning the poor and oppressed. He asks, when he was hungry did you feed him? When he was sick, did you help him? Many people will have to answer, “No, I didn’t recognize you.” He also said to turn the other cheek instead of choosing violence. The bombs keep falling. The little children keep being killed. I understand that when you don’t sit with people and cry and laugh and talk about your kids - they seem like “others.” But I am lucky enough to have dear friends from so many backgrounds and I am blessed enough to know that we are all equal. Our kids are all equal. We’re meant to love each other, we’re not made to hate. We’re meant to help each other, not to hurt. We’re met to feed each other, not to starve. We’re meant to listen to each other, not turn away. Please join me in a prayer today that Israa and Rahaf can be with Rahaf’s brothers and dad again. My heart is so broken for Israa because I’ve sat with her and cried and laughed and talked about our kids. She’s just like me. #gaza

Things I never thought I’d say in a video for a child : I’m so sorry your whole family was killed. #gaza