A beautiful person. From this interview, I have faith that she and her children - and Israelis - will come through.
One cannot help but compare her humanism and that of so many of the Israeli victims and survivors compared to the pure evil that swarmed out of Gaza on October 7th.
Thank you Sofie Berzon MacKie for your answers and observations, I am so grateful you and your children survived , and to Max Raskin for such an insightful interview. Beyond that, there are no words ... Stay safe.
Thank you Sofie for testifying, telling more than just your story actually, but letting us in on your most private thoughts. You are a very impressive, brave and intelligent woman. I’m wishing the very best for you and your family. I’m hopeful and confident that you and your family will overcome this trauma.
The feeling she had, release of fear, I experienced 32 years ago. I died. I knew it, and it was wonderful once the awful unpleasantness suddenly ceased. I went into the light. And I was stopped by a feminine presence with a face of light. No words, but perfect communication. That presence completely loved me. Knew me perfectly. And it was absolutely clear --- you are going back. You have something to do. And I would live for quite a while.
A metaphor was as if a small boy had a bad day in his first day of kindergarten. And the next day he doesn't want to go back. His mother would love him, and understand, and yet, be perfectly clear, you are going.
After that, in a timeless time, in an instant, I was integrated with my body. It felt like a corpse. Cold. Dead. Partly disintegrating. Rather disgusting, like Frankenstein's monster made of cobbled together parts from a grave.
One of my early thoughts after returning was that it wasn't fair. The process before death is not at all fun, nor nice. And I would have to go through that again.
But it left me with a different sense of life. For a time I was cavalier, feeling liberated from worrying. Then one evening, doing a backflip when I was tired, I landed on my neck, with a horrible cracking noise. There was no severe damage. although it probably contributed to several "funky discs" a doctor saw, but it felt like a message --- I didn't want to spend 40 years like Mr. Reeve, a quadriplegic.
I nearly died 3 weeks ago, but the imminent unavoidable accident was prevented by inches. Not my doing, either the cause or the survival. I was there for the ride. My air filter blew out and the blowout covered an air intake sensor. I didn't feel any fear at all at the time, just doing what could be done, and bracing for the hit. Which barely didn't happen. Mechanic said the last person to touch the air filter bent the frame a little, setting it up to blow out.
We die, but something continues that is deeper and bigger than we believe we are here.
I hate saying this, but I couldn't muster as much sympathy for her as I wanted to. Based on her statements here, I can't help thinking that if she were living in the U.S. she'd be marching with sign that said "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
Thank you for the compelling interview. It was hard to read, but I had to read it all to the end. After all the horror and an acceptance that death was inevitable, Sophie spoke of wanting another child. Hope springs eternal.
No, I didn't see your other comment, but I did look at your profile and saw things posted there that I would agree with and post myself. I wouldn't want to be judged by my outbursts and I am perfectly okay with you having an opinion I don't entirely agree with. Go in peace and may you be blessed.
Among many other things this article demonstrates clearly that the actions of the Hamas, and Gazan, attackers were true, unadulterated, unequivocal terrorism. Just look at how many times this articulate, sophisticated human used the word terror.
I was afraid at first to read this interview, but I'm glad that I did. It was the most horrific but, at the same time, life-affirming interview I've ever read. Thank you, Sofie, and thank you, Max. I'm sharing this interview with everyone I know.
We live in the merkaz and were woken up by the sirens at 6:30am. We watched channel 12 all morning, asking the same question: where is the army. Not yet aware of the complete terror and horror you and others went through.
Thank you Bari for reposting this interview.
And the museum Man in the Living World is simply superb and wonderful.
What a moving interview with a remarkable woman. What a hell she survived and yet her beautiful humanity remained intact. I can’t imagine the terror she felt and my heart goes out to her and all the others who have, and continue, to suffer. God bless you all.
I’ve read many essays published by the FP, but this is the first one that actually made me cry. I was able to empathize with everything you went through and the interview really conveyed the range of emotions you must have experienced that horrible day. I just hope you can find peace, move on with your life and stay optimistic about humanity. Shalom.
A beautiful person. From this interview, I have faith that she and her children - and Israelis - will come through.
One cannot help but compare her humanism and that of so many of the Israeli victims and survivors compared to the pure evil that swarmed out of Gaza on October 7th.
Thank you Sofie Berzon MacKie for your answers and observations, I am so grateful you and your children survived , and to Max Raskin for such an insightful interview. Beyond that, there are no words ... Stay safe.
Thank you Sofie for testifying, telling more than just your story actually, but letting us in on your most private thoughts. You are a very impressive, brave and intelligent woman. I’m wishing the very best for you and your family. I’m hopeful and confident that you and your family will overcome this trauma.
The feeling she had, release of fear, I experienced 32 years ago. I died. I knew it, and it was wonderful once the awful unpleasantness suddenly ceased. I went into the light. And I was stopped by a feminine presence with a face of light. No words, but perfect communication. That presence completely loved me. Knew me perfectly. And it was absolutely clear --- you are going back. You have something to do. And I would live for quite a while.
A metaphor was as if a small boy had a bad day in his first day of kindergarten. And the next day he doesn't want to go back. His mother would love him, and understand, and yet, be perfectly clear, you are going.
After that, in a timeless time, in an instant, I was integrated with my body. It felt like a corpse. Cold. Dead. Partly disintegrating. Rather disgusting, like Frankenstein's monster made of cobbled together parts from a grave.
One of my early thoughts after returning was that it wasn't fair. The process before death is not at all fun, nor nice. And I would have to go through that again.
But it left me with a different sense of life. For a time I was cavalier, feeling liberated from worrying. Then one evening, doing a backflip when I was tired, I landed on my neck, with a horrible cracking noise. There was no severe damage. although it probably contributed to several "funky discs" a doctor saw, but it felt like a message --- I didn't want to spend 40 years like Mr. Reeve, a quadriplegic.
I nearly died 3 weeks ago, but the imminent unavoidable accident was prevented by inches. Not my doing, either the cause or the survival. I was there for the ride. My air filter blew out and the blowout covered an air intake sensor. I didn't feel any fear at all at the time, just doing what could be done, and bracing for the hit. Which barely didn't happen. Mechanic said the last person to touch the air filter bent the frame a little, setting it up to blow out.
We die, but something continues that is deeper and bigger than we believe we are here.
I hate saying this, but I couldn't muster as much sympathy for her as I wanted to. Based on her statements here, I can't help thinking that if she were living in the U.S. she'd be marching with sign that said "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
Thank you for the compelling interview. It was hard to read, but I had to read it all to the end. After all the horror and an acceptance that death was inevitable, Sophie spoke of wanting another child. Hope springs eternal.
No, I didn't see your other comment, but I did look at your profile and saw things posted there that I would agree with and post myself. I wouldn't want to be judged by my outbursts and I am perfectly okay with you having an opinion I don't entirely agree with. Go in peace and may you be blessed.
Among many other things this article demonstrates clearly that the actions of the Hamas, and Gazan, attackers were true, unadulterated, unequivocal terrorism. Just look at how many times this articulate, sophisticated human used the word terror.
I was afraid at first to read this interview, but I'm glad that I did. It was the most horrific but, at the same time, life-affirming interview I've ever read. Thank you, Sofie, and thank you, Max. I'm sharing this interview with everyone I know.
We live in the merkaz and were woken up by the sirens at 6:30am. We watched channel 12 all morning, asking the same question: where is the army. Not yet aware of the complete terror and horror you and others went through.
Thank you Bari for reposting this interview.
And the museum Man in the Living World is simply superb and wonderful.
This brought me to tears. Thank you, Sophie, for sharing your story.
What a moving interview with a remarkable woman. What a hell she survived and yet her beautiful humanity remained intact. I can’t imagine the terror she felt and my heart goes out to her and all the others who have, and continue, to suffer. God bless you all.
I’ve read many essays published by the FP, but this is the first one that actually made me cry. I was able to empathize with everything you went through and the interview really conveyed the range of emotions you must have experienced that horrible day. I just hope you can find peace, move on with your life and stay optimistic about humanity. Shalom.
If you want to understand these kinds of things and fight them, this chapter from a west point book will help.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/200112463_Understanding_and_Countering_the_Motives_and_Methods_of_Warlords
That glimmer of realization that she's been naïve about human nature...
This one should be outside the paywall if it isn’t already