ALBANY– Bruria Efune, an Israeli journalist and activist whose ongoing coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict has reached thousands of readers through her Daily War Summary updates, will speak at Bethlehem Chabad, 393 Delaware Ave., Delmar on Monday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.  Her topic will be, “A War In My Backyard.”

Efune a native Canadian, made aliyah several years ago. She is mother of four, a writer, co-founder of a new town in the Negev, and from her home in Be’er Sheva, Israel, began her daily summaries in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. Her writing has offered detailed, accounts of battlefield developments along with personal messages of hope and resilience. According to program organizers, her messages have been shared widely on social media and followed by a growing audience seeking trustworthy, time-sensitive information from someone living where the war’s impact is felt every day. Her summaries have been cited alongside frontline updates and are often recognized for their blend of factual reporting and human perspective.

Beyond summarizing daily wartime developments, Efune has taken a role in supporting Israel’s troops. In late 2023, she and her family packed their vehicle with supplies, from energy bars to essential clothing and made extended trips to serve soldiers on multiple Israel Defense Forces bases in the south. Her mission was not just logistical but personal: to meet combat soldiers, hear their needs firsthand, and convey those insights back to civilians and supporters abroad.

What sets Efune apart is her dual role as both an eyewitness to her family’s experience living under frequent rocket alarm sirens and as a chronicler of a nation at war. She writes with the urgency of someone whose everyday life is entwined with the events she reports, bringing a human face to the numbers: “your heart is racing, but you need to show your kids that you’re calm…” a line she shared from her reporting that captures the difficult balance of courage, routine, and care required of those living through constant alerts.

Community members may register online at www.BethlehemChabad.com/Israel or by calling 518-439-3310. Cost to attend is $20 per person.