You are listening to an art media podcast.

Yixin-Wa wanted, not what's willing.

He wanted to sacrifice the Palestinian civilian population in order to break the spirit of

Israeli civilian population and turn Western civilian population against Israel.

We ironically and tragically played into Sinwar hands,

and we walked into Sinwar's trap,

and now we're faced with the consequences.

Music consequences. It's 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30th in Israel, as Israelis wind down their day.

It's 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30th, here in New York City, as many in the local Jewish community

mourn the unfathomable loss of one of our local leaders and friends.

In the introduction to these podcast episodes, I often mention the names of Israelis killed fighting in the war. I want

everyone, especially here in the diaspora, to know their names. Today I'm doing something different.

I want to spend a few moments talking about an American who was murdered at a mass shooting in Midtown

Manhattan two days ago. Her name is Wesley Lepatner. She was 43 years old.

She's the wife of Evan Lepatner and the mother of two young children. Wesley was a senior executive

at the Blackstone Group. It's how many in the business world knew her. But in the Jewish world,

Wesley was the energetic, no-nonsense,

wise, and inspiring member of the UJA Federation of New York's Board, and, as I knew her,

a fellow trustee of the Heschel School. In the past couple of days, as so many people in the community have been comparing

memories about Wesley, one thread throughout all the stories I have heard was about how

Wesley elevated everyone around her. She was fully engaged in Jewish life. She completely got

Jewish day schools and why they matter, not just for her family, but for the

...