Ms Rachel

I was so honored to spend time with Rahaf from Gaza. Rahaf is a 3-year-old double amputee who lost her legs in an airstrike. She’s absolutely adorable and the most loving, smart, playful little girl.🥹💕 I am so thankful to @The PCRF for facilitating her medical evacuation. They are my heroes! I will link to them in my bio. When I saw pictures of Rahaf in Gaza on the hospital floor, I saw the devastating consequences of endless bombing and continuous violations of children’s human rights. Rahaf is now thriving because she has access to medical care, food, water and a safe place to live. It’s so clear what we need to give children so they can grow up into healthy, happy adults. I was also honored to spend time with Rahaf’s wonderful mom, Israa. She is a teacher as well. We FaceTimed with Rahaf’s two adorable, young brothers who are still Gaza with their dad. I watched her look at them proudly, like I look at my son. I imagined myself holding up the phone in the US with my daughter, now a double amputee from an airstrike, away from my son and husband in Gaza, unable to help them - unable to feed them and keep them safe. Israa and Rahaf don’t eat in front of the boys anymore on FaceTime because there’s so little food there. Israa and I both love our children with all of our hearts. We’re both teachers who know what kids need to thrive. We want the same things for our sweet babies. But my son will have dinner tonight, a story and snuggle with me, school in the morning and hers won’t. It’s so clear what needs to be done for kids in Gaza by the global community. We know treating children like they are being treated in Gaza isn’t right morally and ethically. We know it in our souls and hearts. It doesn’t align with the teachings of our religions. We also have so much research on brain development that shows how trauma and malnutrition during the first three years of life can have life long consequences. Leaders who are silent and not helping these children, you should be ashamed. Your silence will be remembered. Help my friends, like sweet Rahaf, now. Proud to be married to Mr Aron, who brought her so much joy and so many giggles! #gaza #msrachel

Yay! 🎉 Love you #reading #BookTok #toddlermom #toddlers #toddlerdad

Hi friends! 👋 I'm so excited to team up with Stonyfield Organic! I love that their organic Yobaby yogurt has no added sweeteners and is made without using harmful pesticides. We are going to announce a fun giveaway and have some other exciting plans! Stonyfield will also be donating to two charities I care so much about, both that help children in need 💙. Follow @stonyfield to stay updated! #ad

Behind every baby who looks like this… ps this was 1 min later - she spit up on the outfit - this is really how we look today! 😳😂😴 #mama #msrachel

This is precious baby Amal in Gaza. 💕 She deserves everything my baby has. They are no different. Her mom and I are no different. Our love for our babies is no different. I pray that Amal and all children have healthy food, clean water, medical care and a safe place to live. So many children don’t, but they could. That’s the part that hurts so much. We stand by. @ayuob.family.gaza

Potty training is not a race and it doesn’t mean your child isn’t bright and awesome if they get it later! #potty #pottytraining #msrachel

It’s my favorite and brings me so much joy but it is hard 😆 I’m proud of us.

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

What videos or pictures made you want to speak out? #gaza #msrachel

It should be contraversial to be silent #msrachel #gaza #toddlermom