Photo courtesy of the author.
Photo courtesy of the author.
When Ran Gvili, the last hostage from the Israel-Hamas war was released from Gaza, I stopped wearing yellow nail polish and returned to my beloved purple. I had been decorating my nails in shades and designs of yellow in solidarity with Hadassah’s #EndTheSilence campaign.
Hadassah initiated that international Yellow Nail Campaign in March 2024 as a call to action to #EndTheSilence about the sexual violence Hamas terrorists committed during the October 7 massacre and while they held the hostages captive in Gaza.
Hadassah’s advocacy against the weaponization of rape and mutilation of women during the Hamas-Israel war succeeded in getting the attention of the United Nations. My yellow nails were a personal success in raising awareness, as well. Noticed by those I encountered in my daily life, they became my personal vehicle for advocacy and education about Israel and Hadassah.
Once the last hostage came home and the campaign drew to a close, I stopped wearing yellow nails. But I pondered, “What could I do now to call attention to anti-Israel sentiment, fight antisemitism and continue to educate those I encounter?” I still respond to Israel Action Alerts asking me to contact my legislators on Israel’s behalf; I write letters, send emails and make phone calls. But these actions are not visible to the people I encounter in my everyday life; they don’t call attention to the issues the way my yellow nails had.
Antisemitic hate and destruction have hit home. Our Michigan community is reeling from the March 12 truck-ramming incident at our beautiful Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
It’s the largest synagogue in our community, as well as the largest reform temple in the US. We all have been inside that building, whether for services, community events, weddings, etc.
Thank G-d, their well-trained security guards acted quickly. Although one guard was injured, no one inside was harmed. But that beautiful building was severely damaged by smoke from the explosion and water from the ceiling sprinkler system.
Another synagogue in our neighborhood was vandalized with graffiti and swastikas. Social media explodes with anti-Israel, antisemitic memes – non-stop. None of us can say that this is just happening “over there.” Incidents of violence, protests and student discomfort on campuses, media against the Jews and Israelis, houses of worship terrorized, businesses attacked – all have increased worldwide.
Now, with the war waging against Iran, negativity towards Jews and Israel has grown even more. We are living in scary times. to want to do something! I want to help others understand the truth about the Jewish people and our homeland of Israel.
With the arrival of the significant Jewish holidays of Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Israel Independence Day), I decided to paint my nails white and blue – the colors of Israel’s flag – in unity with and celebration of Israel. I had incorporated Israel symbolism into my yellow nails for Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, but now they are only blue and white.
Yom Ha’atzma’ut is an important day for me. This Yom Ha’Atzma’ut marked the 50th anniversary of meeting my husband Mickey during the Israel Independence Day celebration at “The J” (the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, located in West Bloomfield). My grandson Ami was born on Yom Ha’Atzma’ut. Both Israel and I were born in the spring of 1948. Thanks to my mother, Israel and I celebrate our birthdays together each year.
We usually celebrate Yom Ha’Atzma’ut in Israel in Mickey’s parents’ yard. But war is raging. We didn’t know if we could get to Israel and there is no convenient safe room for us at his parents’ home. So, this year, we celebrated here in Detroit! We decorated our house in blue and white with Israeli flags all around. And I, dressed in blue pants and a white blouse. My blue and white nails added my special fashion touch.
Looking down at my beautifully decorated nails, I wondered, “Nails were one of my main vehicles to call attention to the plight of the hostages, so should my nails remain a path for advocacy?”
Viola!! Here is my answer: I will continue to advocate and educate with Israeli symbols on my nails until this war ceases. I will create my own “Nails for Israel Advocacy” awareness campaign.
My first version of “Nails for Israel Advocacy” is pictured here. Amy, my nail tech, hand-drew this design. She will continue to help me create nail designs. Additionally, I found Israeli nail stickers online that I can incorporate into future nail designs. I’ll see what I create next – onward and onward.
I am excited to continue my advocacy for Israel with this visible sign of support. Thank you Hadassah for the idea of painting our nails as a powerful vehicle on behalf of Israel.
You’re invited to join me in my “Nails for Israel Advocacy” campaign, if you’d like.
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Beverly is a member of the Hadassah Writers’ Circle, a dynamic and diverse writing group for leaders and members to express their thoughts and feelings about all the things Hadassah does to make the world a better place. It’s where they celebrate their personal Hadassah journeys and share their Jewish values, family traditions and interpretations of Jewish texts. Hadassah members are proud of their Zionist mission and their role as keepers of the flame of Jewish values, traditions and beliefs as well as advocating for women’s empowerment and health equity for all. Since 2019, the Hadassah Writers’ Circle has published nearly 800 columns in The Times of Israel Blogs and other Jewish media outlets. Interested in writing? Please contact hwc@hadassah.org.
Beverly Kent Goldenberg has been a life member of Hadassah since 1968 and is a member of the Hadassah Writers’ Circle. She was born and raised in Detroit and is a member of the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter, Hadassah Greater Detroit. A social worker by profession, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Beverly worked at Jewish Family Service and Hillel Day School of Metro Detroit for over 30 years, creating social skills programs for children that were modeled state-wide. Her English teachers always thought that she would become a journalist. Better late than never, she has been writing and publishing memoir pieces and poetry the past several years. Beverly and her Israeli husband, Michael, raised their two sons, Etai (Caroline), a urologist, and Oren, a filmmaker and real estate developer, in Huntington Woods, Michigan, where they still reside today. Beverly is Savta to five grandchildren, Leo, Ami, Estee and Elie, Nesya and a grand-dog, Sparrow.