- 6 days ago
A powerful conversation with Imam of Peace (Mohammad Tawhidi) on the Bondi attack aftermath, why he rejected the immediate cries of “Islamophobia,” and what he says the West must do to confront extremist ideology while protecting peaceful Muslim communities. We discuss: • Why leadership language matters after an attack • The difference between legitimate anti-Muslim bigotry and political “shielding” • Why extremist ideologies must be exposed openly • What ordinary citizens can do (lawfully) to push back and demand accountability • Why strong Muslim voices must be elevated — now ▶️ WATCH & SUBSCRIBE on YouTube:
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00:00Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night. Welcome to another episode
00:12of the Erin Mullen Show. Thank you so much for tuning in. It's so great to have your
00:16company. We're still, I don't know if recovery is the right word, still in the midst of this
00:23horrific mass shooting in Bondi, Sydney, Australia, which is less than a kilometre from where
00:27I am right now. The fallout continues. We continue to learn more and more about this father-son
00:34duo, the two shooters, a 24-year-old and a 50-year-old, with IS Links, now Islamic State
00:40Links, also reports that they spent up to a month in the Philippines just prior to this
00:47horror terrorist act. The Philippines is renowned for hosting different kinds of camps and
00:55preparations for terrorist activities. One of the men, the son, was investigated a few
01:02years ago by our security agency and then deemed not to be a threat, also had a firearm license
01:10for multiple weapons. So, I mean, just talking here and thinking as someone who respects immensely
01:17the job that they do, I find it very difficult to fathom that someone could have been on a
01:22watch list. Then gone to a place, the Philippines, for a month that has a very high level of terrorist
01:32activity that is renowned for people going in and then coming out even more radicalised.
01:39And it didn't appear to ring enough alarm bells for something to have thwarted what we saw,
01:44which was 16 people killed at Bondi Beach, a targeted attack towards the Jewish community who
01:50were celebrating Hanukkah, including a 10-year-old girl, including Holocaust survivors, including
01:57October 7 survivors. Absolutely horrific. We've spoken at length over the past couple of days
02:04on this show about how we got here, about failings of government, failings of leadership, failings of
02:10the broader community as well. There's a lot of reflection to do, but, you know, reflection doesn't
02:16bring back people's lives. This shouldn't have needed to have occurred for people to be pushed
02:21into reflection as to what role they have played. Were you marching along the harbour bridge chanting
02:27death to Jews under the flag of the Hezbollah leader or the Taliban logo? Because if you were,
02:38I mean, the time for reflection has well and truly passed, but what role did that play
02:42in getting us here? And there's so many more incidents that were the build-up to this,
02:48this absolute horror show that will change life for everyone in this community as we've known it,
02:55and not just the Jewish community. And this is what we need to really make sure people are clear
02:59about. The threat is not just against Jews. This was Bondi Beach packed, thousands of people.
03:05The Jews were the target, yes. But if you think that those gunmen were completely across who was a Jew
03:14and who wasn't in a packed out grassy knoll, then you're kidding yourselves. This is evil that doesn't
03:20discriminate. It wants to kill us all. Kill us all. I've got a couple of very special guests for you
03:28today, and I'm really excited about this first one. They call him the Imam of Peace. Some of you may
03:36know his story. Some of you may not. But I often talk about this real void when it comes to strong
03:43Muslim voices who are condemning this terrorism, this evil, murders and deaths, who hate it and aren't
03:52afraid to call it out. Well, that describes him to a T. And I'll tell you something he said as well.
04:00He brought up Islamophobia, and I need you to see his response to that. He was scathing.
04:09And he's absolutely right. So ladies and gentlemen, please meet the Imam of Peace.
04:17I'd now like to introduce you to my next guest, Imam Tahiti, who is otherwise known as the Imam
04:23of Peace, an incredible human being who does the most phenomenal work. It's such a pleasure to welcome
04:29you to the show. I wish it were under better circumstances. Hello, Aaron. Great to be with
04:34you today. Thank you for having me. Imam, what was your initial reaction to the horrors that have
04:39unfolded here in Bondi in Sydney, Australia? Speechless, heartbroken, shattered. The Jewish
04:48community of Sydney is very, very dear to my heart. They've had an impact on me personally during my
04:55development in Australia. I share wonderful moments and history with that community, especially
05:01Chabad, Sydney. This is a community that's like family to me. And before this interview, I was on the
05:08phone with Rabbi Yossi from Texas, whose son, Rabbi Label, was shot and wounded in the terrorist
05:18attack in Bondi. And his son is the assistant of the rabbi who was murdered. So I think now is not
05:28only a time of unity, but also a time of accountability. And positions need to be clear. There cannot be
05:36statements coming from political leaders that do not mention the word Jews, terrorism, calling it what
05:44it was, and does not mention Hanukkah. Referring to this as an unfortunate incident or things to that
05:53effect, that's what you use to describe being stuck behind the train and missing a meeting. You don't use
06:00that type of language when over 10 people have been killed until now. And the numbers continue to rise
06:09from the ages of 10 years old to 87. At the end of the day, regardless of where I travel around the
06:15world, I am an Australian. And this pain is Jewish pain. And they need to be respected. And cannot, it cannot be
06:25hijacked by the Islamophobia industry, who comes out and they've come out immediately after the attack
06:32saying, report Islamophobia, because this attack is going to cause Islamophobia. We need to respect the
06:37Jewish community and give them the time to grieve and stand with them in solidarity. And anyone hijacking
06:44that needs to be opposed. And I thank you for allowing me to open with this.
06:49Thank you. You are phenomenal. You've just nailed the
06:56crux of it so eloquently. So people understand, because there's going to be a lot of people who
07:02aren't aware of your story, who are blown away by who you are and what you stand for. Tell us who you
07:08are, what religion you are, and how you have somehow managed to just see this for what it is, which is good
07:16versus evil. My name is Muhammad, first name. My second name is Tawheidi. I am a cleric, a theologian.
07:26I specialize in Islamic law. I was ordained in Iran in the Islamic seminary of Qom in 2010. I currently
07:36serve as a governing member at the Global Imams Council. It is headquartered, the Western division
07:42is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Middle Eastern division is headquartered in the Islamic
07:49city of Najaf, the Holy Seminary of Najaf in Iraq. We are a council of 1,600 plus Imams from all schools
07:58of thought and denomination. I'm currently in our Western headquarters. And I am also an Australian
08:05citizen. Previously, I was a fundamentalist. I held views that many would categorize as extremist.
08:12But you would expect nothing other than that if you're trained in Iran. And so I thank God
08:21for allowing me to see the light. And that I made the best decision in my life to withdraw
08:27myself from Al-Mustafa University, which is the hub for extremist IRGC curriculum. And I moved
08:35to Iraq. There I continued my advanced studies. And then ISIS took over in 2014. They were two hours
08:42away from me. We lost family members.
08:43Sorry. It wasn't safe. I returned back to Australia with the understanding that ISIS and all extremism
08:52needed to be confronted. And so I began speaking out. And I was called an Islamophore. You asked
08:59me about my faith. I'm a Muslim. I am not a convert to Islam with all due respect to converts. I am the
09:08descendant of the companions of the Holy Prophet. I descend from the lineage of Adi bin Hatam
09:14al-Tai, who was one of the early Muslims who sided side by side with our Prophet. I'm an Arab from the
09:22tribe of Tay, which is one of the most prominent Arabian tribes ever to exist. I say this to say that
09:30Islam is my religion. God spoke to us in our language. And I'm not prepared to see some converted extremist
09:41hijack my Quran, my book, my Prophet, my religion, because they have a Muslim Brotherhood political
09:50agenda. That was my attitude in Australia. And I was met with the anger of mainstream media who labeled me as
10:00everything that I'm not. And, you know, now we see, well, over the last 10 years, we've seen that
10:09everything I had warned about was not only accurate, it was timely, it was ignored, and now they're paying
10:16the price. What I gained, however, is the trust of the Australian public who saw that I was not after fame
10:24and money and power. And I did not run for office. In fact, I remained a volunteer in a charity this
10:31entire time. And I did nothing but warn from an ideology that ultimately has destroyed the Middle
10:38East, Iraq, where I originally am from. And I did not want that to happen in Australia. That's the message
10:45I carry also accompanied with a message of peace, coexistence, harmony, solidarity, and the bonds
10:52between the Abrahamic family of Jews, Muslims and Christians together. I'm also a resident in the UAE
10:59and an official advisor there on counterterrorism, because that is my profession. I hold a master's
11:05degree in Islamic studies and a master's degree in counterterrorism. And so I combine both. It's very
11:11important that I mention this because many would question why am I countering extremists when other
11:17imams do not. I am well within my lane to do so. I often talk about this and the reason I love you
11:24so much, you know, I grew up in Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic nation. I speak the language fluently.
11:30I love that country. I love its people. The government, particularly prior to the current president,
11:36eradicated all but Islamic extremism in such an incredible way. And they did it double pronged
11:42with really tough penalties and indoctrination. You know, they focused heavily on it. I say to people,
11:47my fight against this extremism is as much for Muslim children born as it is for any other child
11:52in the world. And they will say to me privately, we are hurt by this more than anyone. So it should be
11:57normal that that strong, staunch, devout Muslims stand against this. We just don't see it enough.
12:03Your voice is so powerful here. So powerful. Thank you, Erin. I should also mention that
12:11when I was being attacked by people with bad intentions in Australia, in the media,
12:16later it was discovered that they were paid by the Muslim Brotherhood one way or another. You know,
12:22the old classic of ordering several thousand copies of their books via Amazon, and that's how they get
12:27their royalties in exchange for attempting to character assassinate me. And that failed really
12:34well. You know, at the end of the day, if God is on your side, nothing can stop you. But I want to say
12:42the only community that saw what was happening with me was the Jewish community and specifically
12:49the Australian Jewish Association and specifically Dr. David Adler. He saw exactly what was happening.
12:55I was condemning Hamas, condemning ISIS, and I was being discredited by the imams councils in the
13:02country. And so the invitation came out from Sydney, the same community that has been impacted today.
13:08And I visited them. I went to Bondi and there I met with Chabad, Sydney. And the story is well known
13:16in Australia that I stayed up many hours after the event, texting with a rabbi up until 3am. And so we
13:27bonded. There was a phenomenal, phenomenal brotherly relationship between us. And I am determined to
13:34making sure that the Jewish community in Australia has not only a Muslim voice, but a Muslim voice that is
13:42not afraid of the extremists. I don't want to describe myself as being courageous, but this is my religious
13:50duty and my responsibility. And I lead this council in this direction with this line of thinking that
13:56the extremists cannot be allowed to operate without criticism and claims of Islamophobia after October 7,
14:04as we've seen in after such tragedies should be met with criticism because there is legitimate anti-Muslim
14:12bigotry, but this is not it. This is a nation that is upset. I'll tell you this, and this is what I've
14:21learned and what I've lived through. The West, with Australia in focus now because of the current
14:28development. The West in general does not care if you are Arab or if you're Persian or if you are white
14:36or black. The West does not care if you believe in one God or 50 gods. The West does not care what
14:41food you eat and what music you listen to. They will begin to care when your ideology, your Islamist
14:48fundamental ideology, fundamentalist ideology calls for their beheading, for the overthrowing of democracy,
14:55for the wiping out of human rights, basic freedoms, women's rights. That's when they will start to care.
15:04And this disgust with certain Muslim communities is very valid because they don't hate me. Why is it
15:12when I show up in Bandai and these areas, I am met with hugs and praised for work because
15:21I want peace. I want to see co-existent and we build bridges. But yes, if you're going to carry a
15:28extremist Al-Qaeda flag through their communities and then follow it with weapons and gun them down,
15:34they're going to hate you and they're going to hate the community you belong to. And you know what,
15:38we join them. I will join them in hating the Islamist extremist Muslim Brotherhood fanatic. And I stand by
15:45them because that is the nature of being a pure human being. You love what is good and you hate what is evil.
15:52It's not complex, is it, Imam? It is for so many people. It shouldn't be.
15:57What do you make of the Australian government? And I have been incredibly critical of failure after
16:03failure after failure. And I say a lack of moral courage, but I think you're courageous. I don't
16:09think it required courage from them to do what is right. That is their job. We put them in office
16:14to protect us and our way of life and they have failed. I think this requires morals more than
16:20courage. You don't have to be a prime minister or a president to say the truth. It requires morals
16:27to be able to distinguish between what is politically right and wrong and what is morally right and wrong.
16:36Today, the politicians think it is politically wrong to call out the communities, these extremist
16:43terrorists, which is exactly what they are, came out of. They find it to be a political risk. Why?
16:50Because they speak the language of votes and money. And that is the lowest way to live your life,
16:57being dominated by power and making sure that no one takes this chair of leadership from you.
17:05Real leadership is when you are able to express yourself in the way that your heart
17:11sees things and believes so. I don't think the prime minister of Australia doesn't know
17:16that this was a massacre of Jews on Hanukkah. I don't think he doesn't know this targeted Jews
17:21and it was carried out by Islamist extremists. He knows very well, but it's not cowardice. It's lack of
17:28morals. I think rewarding the Palestinians with a Palestinian state gets you exactly this.
17:35It was wrong to do so because these are the very people that came out supporting October 7 then
17:42followed it up with chants around the Opera House saying gas the Jews. These are the exact same people.
17:49If you want to say this is free speech, fine, do so. And then you have ASIO, which of course
17:55will come out and say they were on a watch list. They were known to us, right? And you'll hear this around
18:04the world in UK, in Australia, in Europe, whenever there's a terrorist attack, they were known to us.
18:10What does a watch list mean? What does a watch list mean? What does that mean? It means you're watching
18:15them carry out terrorist attacks. What does that mean? There are no watch lists in Dubai. There is no
18:21watch list in Saudi Arabia. There's no watch list in Bahrain. If you're a threat, you're out.
18:26Why do we give people chances the first time they show us what they might be capable of? Sorry,
18:37I'm not willing to take the risk. I don't want my daughter to take the risk. Get them out.
18:42And I don't think it's a mystery because when we speak about the Middle East, we're not talking about
18:47something in Mars or on Pluto. It's happening here. People transit from Australia to the Middle East and
18:53they spend a few days there and they see exactly how safe it is. Why is it so safe? Because
18:59extremists are not allowed to wave the Al-Qaeda flag in the UAE. You can't do that in Saudi Arabia. You
19:06can't open up a Facebook page in Saudi Arabia and support the Muslim Brotherhood. That's not going to
19:13happen. And you can call it democracy and free speech and people have the right to express their views
19:19with all due respect. If your view is to behead me, then I will make sure you do not exist in the
19:27same society that I exist in. It's as simple as that. This is Muslim logic. This is the logic of the
19:34rulers in the Middle East. Muslim countries are better. Most of them are better at this than
19:40anyone. Yet Western countries feel like they know better, feel like they know better. And apologies,
19:45you can hear the chopper ahead. Imam, I'm going to have to go, but I want to end this
19:49on a note. I want to know from you, what is the solution here? How does the Australia that
19:54my dad went to war to protect, that was willing to risk his life for, how do we claw that back?
20:01This is a collective response that's required. We can't rely on our politicians because they'll let
20:05us down. I believe there is no one solution here. I think different people from different professions
20:14need to step up. But I think from a social perspective, there needs to be the amplification
20:22of Muslim voices who are anti the extremists. Why? Because the extremists are a minority.
20:29They are a minority. They showed us their full force after October 7th. A couple of
20:34thousand people here and there. You don't see 1 million, 2 million flooding the streets
20:40in support of Hamas. So that's good. You have a minority. This minority has money.
20:46They have the luxurious mosques. They have the votes. Why? Because certain political parties
20:52have agreed that we will make them the face of the Muslim community.
20:55Yeah. The real face of the Muslim community needs to be supported, needs to be visited,
21:00and you will find, not just the refreshing voices, you'll find brothers in those communities,
21:06people who will stand with you. And these are people we have in our council and we work with daily.
21:10So that's on a social level. Secondly, on a more legal level, there needs to be legal action from
21:17citizens against certain charities, organizations, for what they teach, for what they preach.
21:24If an imam around you gets on a pulpit and calls for death and preaches hate, sue him. Silence him.
21:34Get them to apologize. Anyone can do that. We have human rights commissions for a reason.
21:38They need to be utilized. And the list goes on, of course. But for the limited time we have,
21:44I say the advice I would give to Australians right now, do not stay silent. Because after this settles,
21:51the politicians will join hands with the extremists to come out and silence you. Do not stay silent no
21:59matter what. Point the finger at every corrupt politician and corrupt imam and know that you
22:03will have people like lions with you and we will not back down. Thank you.
22:07Beautifully said. Imam, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for everything that you do. Because my love for
22:13Indonesia and so many Muslims there who I grew up with is so strong. I'm always, I'm yelling for more
22:19Muslim voices. They are so powerful. Yours is the top of that list. Thank you. Thank you.
22:24And as the Indonesians say, uh, thank you. Thank you. Amazing.
22:34Isn't he a phenomenal human being and as much as we can elevate his voice, we should. So please
22:41share this far and wide, whether you're listening on YouTube or on the podcast, watching on YouTube,
22:46however you consume this show, please share it far and wide because his voice must be heard and it must
22:51be heard by Muslims. I want every Muslim person, every Muslim person who, who doesn't believe in
22:58the death and destruction under their name to watch and listen and learn because he is amazing.
23:05My next guest, his name is Yishe Ishran and he is a former IDF soldier who wrote a book
23:12and he talks about his dog and this process and this journey of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.
23:21It's something that so many of our brave men and women who serve in the military, whether it's
23:25in Australia, in America, in Israel, fighting against a horrific enemy, often when they come home,
23:32that's when the real battle begins. And that's saying something given what they see out there
23:36in the battlefield and what they face. So I think we need to be really conscious of the fact that a lot
23:41of our brave heroes come home and we say, oh, he survived. That's amazing. But then the suffering really,
23:46really starts. So this is a quick conversation, but I think it's a really, really important one.
23:50Yishe, thank you so very much for a joining me on the Erin Molan show and far more importantly,
23:57for your service, not just to your nation of Israel, but to the entire West, all the people
24:02who believe in peace, freedom, democracy, and all the things that really matter. I genuinely say thank you.
24:07Well, thank you, Irene. I'm grateful to be on your show and to put some, you know, important issue of PTSD and mental health issues in general. But PTSD among veterans, which is a epidemic worldwide and especially I know it from Israel.
24:25You know, you know, in Israel since the 7th of October war, started more than 70 soldiers ended their own life due to PTSD. And we could have prevented it as a society if we could have looked at them and give them the help they need.
24:41So thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to speak with you.
24:45You don't have to thank me at all. It's a privilege to give you a voice and a bigger voice. And thank you for using your voice. It's a very difficult space.
24:53In Australia, we've had very similar issues. You mentioned globally. And my dad, as you probably know, was in the army for many, many years. And I am very involved with a lot of veteran organizations and particularly mental health and PTSD. It is such a big issue.
25:09For a lot of people, they go to war, but the really tough battle actually begins when they get home and it's up there and it steals so many lives. It really does.
25:19Tell me your story before we get into what you decided to do to, first of all, help yourself cope, but secondly, to help others feel less alone in this space.
25:29I served in a special unit in the West Bank. I accidentally in an operation, I shot my friend, which is alive, but he got injured. It was very traumatic incident for me.
25:43And also through my service, I've seen and done some stuff that usually people don't see in their daily life. But you know, as a man, we are all very, you know, we see ourselves as very strong and we cannot admit our weaknesses.
26:00And this is PTSD most vulnerable point because usually people are very afraid to admit first to themselves and then second to other people in society that they suffer from mental illness or mental injury and especially service people, you know, in the army, because they see their whole team is continuing with their life.
26:23And you are suddenly suffering from a lot of stations of PTSD and you can, you just don't admit it to yourself.
26:30And I'm saying a lot of times that PTSD is like colon cancer. You know, many guys are ashamed to be tested and then they lose their life to cancer and it's the same with PTSD.
26:43You are ashamed that you, you, you, you, you grasp yourself as weak, although of course it's not true.
26:50And yeah, very like any other injury.
26:53And then you just suffer so much that you sometimes prefer to die than to continue coping with the disease or with this injury.
27:03And for me, for many years, I was just medicated myself with drugs and alcohol from the minute I woke up until I went to sleep and I did suffer from...
27:15Can you explain to us, and sorry to interrupt Ishi, but what does that look like?
27:19So you wake up and what do you take? Is it alcohol in the morning? Is it painkillers? Is it recreational?
27:25For me, it was, uh, usually it was, uh, drugs like, like a grass, you know, like marijuana or alcohol.
27:34And it started with recreational with friends. And then when I felt that I need to, to be more secluded from reality.
27:44So it, it became more and more, not stronger drugs, but, but stronger use.
27:50Stronger use until I was usually, until I was stoned 24 hours a day, like all the time.
27:56It lasted for a few years, but then I started to suffer, you know, the PTSD penetrated this shield of drugs.
28:03And I started to feel anxiety and panic attacks.
28:07And my wife told me, listen, you scream at night.
28:10You beat me up from, from, uh, your sleep.
28:13Go check yourself your PTSD and still I denied what I'm suffering from.
28:19Still, I denied that I'm PTSD and that it's from the army.
28:23And it continued with just trying to cope with it.
28:27Then I quit doing drugs.
28:29And I started to medicate with the psychiatric medication, but I denied that it's from my service.
28:35Until COVID started and we were secluded in our homes.
28:39And then my team from the army gathered at first at WhatsApp group.
28:44And then in the, in the reality, we have, we had the meeting and I met the guy at shot and I met some people.
28:52We, we talked about what happened in the service.
28:55And then we even remember that we were drinking already during the service.
28:59And just imagine sometimes, you know, we, we went to operation when we, at the, when we not totally drunk, but that we had a couple of shots.
29:09And, and, and I went home and I was here ill sick for a few days totally.
29:16And then I collapsed.
29:18Like I didn't eat.
29:19I didn't, uh, sleep.
29:21I had anxiety attacks and panic attacks that lasted for days and weeks.
29:26And only then I understood and told myself and my family that it's PTSD from the army.
29:34And only then I, I sued the, the, uh, you know, the defense ministry and got my handicapped, uh, um, status and started to get treatment.
29:44And actually it really helped because I think that the acknowledgement of the system is so much important,
29:51much important, not only by giving you some kind of, you know, terms that you can, you know, that if you collapse again,
29:59or, or something, you, you will have economic needs to, to support your family.
30:04But also I think when you, when the system acknowledge, you get some kind of relief as a soldier, you know, as someone so much important.
30:16And then because I was, uh, already deep inside my sickness and my, uh, uh, uh, situation,
30:24I couldn't do much work in my business.
30:27And, and I started to work on my book, Doug, which is, uh, actually telling the story of a Golani officer serving in pillars of defense in Gaza.
30:37And he returns home, uh, and suddenly Gaza comes into Tel Aviv for him and he collapsed and he loses everything.
30:46He loses his family, loses his job.
30:48And he's starting to use drugs, which are became much harder and harder.
30:53And then he start to shoot heroin, which is by the way, not uncommon for PTSD survivors.
31:00All over the world.
31:01Wow.
31:02So heroin.
31:03Yeah.
31:04You can see them in the streets, in the streets of the big cities in the U.S.
31:08You can read about it in, uh, Vietnam veterans.
31:11Many of them found themselves living, living in the streets, drug addict.
31:16And it happening even today.
31:18You know, Irene, think about it.
31:20You, when you go on the street with your car in the big cities and people are coming, begging for money.
31:26They are not, they didn't choose to be in this weak place.
31:29I agree.
31:30You know, uh, prostitution is not something that, that people choose to do or women choose to practice.
31:38It's something that some kind of a PTSD or some kind of trauma bring them to this place.
31:46And we usually try to close our windows to, to, and, and, you know, sometimes call the police in them instead of calling social services to help them.
31:56You have in Judaism, these terms that call tikkun olam, you probably heard about it.
32:01It's the term that says that if you, uh, do a small deed in society, like give a smile to someone or give a hand to someone that needs or give some money.
32:13So if we, all of us were doing it, the world would be a better place.
32:16Okay.
32:17Tikkun olam.
32:18I agree.
32:19I think repairing the world.
32:20If we think rationally, they didn't choose this place.
32:24We understand that they are there for a reason.
32:27And this reason put them in this sweet place of society.
32:30But you're speaking so beautifully and eloquently about it.
32:33And I want to ask you, do the IDF and those who are in positions of power, take it more seriously now?
32:40Do you think that maybe they did when you were at the peak of your suffering?
32:44Do you think, have you seen an acknowledgement and an awareness of this in a better way?
32:49I think that, uh, today in the IDF, uh, and in the government, uh, and in society, which is, I think the most important thing,
32:58people understand, especially to the war in the past two years that, uh, PTSD is a major, major injury.
33:07You know, they checked it statistically.
33:09And they showed that, uh, PTSD handicapped in the IDF live five years less than any other handicapped injury in the, in the IDF.
33:19It's amazing.
33:20Like you take all the injuries, head trauma, body trauma, and still PTSD live five years less.
33:28So today society accept PTSD, uh, much, much more, much better, you know, instead of weakness.
33:37Uh, I think that now people grasping it as, as heroes.
33:42And it's something that is so, so important for us, for people that, uh, for, that gave, that, that served in, in, not only in combat units, by the way, Irene, it's amazing.
33:54Yeah.
33:55I met when work came out in Israel and it became like a cult book for PTSD, for veterans and for others.
34:02And people came to my house to, for signature on the book and they started telling me on their story.
34:08So of course they had, I had a lot of veterans and, you know, from a pilot that was PTSD because he crashed and someone in his chopper got killed.
34:19Uh, to add to, you know, many, many officers and parents that were wanting to talk about their children.
34:26But I also had people that told me my PTSD is actual from sexual assault.
34:31When I was a kid, it's amazing.
34:33I had the special unit officer come to my house and we spoke and he had tears in his eyes and he was saying, I, you know, my PTSD is not from the army.
34:43It's when I was molested as a kid.
34:45So, so common in, in society.
34:49It is.
34:50And I've got to say, I spoke at a friends of the IDF event in Los Angeles last week.
34:56And this incredible young man who had almost died and suffered the most insane trauma gets up on stage in front of, I think a thousand people and talks about his physical injuries.
35:08And then also talks about his PTSD, like it was just another extension of his legs that were crushed and his hip and his, and I just, I sat to the side of the stage cause I just introduced him.
35:18And I went, isn't that amazing that, that we're now just accepting it.
35:23He wasn't ashamed.
35:24He was a young man in his mid twenties.
35:26There was no shame.
35:27He spoke openly about it.
35:28Like it was any other legitimate injury, which it is.
35:31And we should continue talking about it.
35:34And this is why it is so important because, you know, we say, and we think that, okay, so it's now so common and people talk about it, but still think about those 6,000 veterans killing themselves in the U S every year or 70 Israeli soldiers or more that, that already took their own life since October 7th.
35:57And they did it just because they couldn't cope and they, they didn't find any hope for, for redemption and for, and I think the key part of your story, and when we're just closing up on time here, but the key part of your story, I feel like it shows them a, that they're not alone because they're looking at someone who was in a, in a, you know, combat force and who suffered immense trauma and is openly talking about it and writing books about it.
36:24And secondly, just via example, you can show that you can reach rock bottom like you did with substance abuse, drugs, alcohol, to the extent where you probably came close to losing your family and people you love and so many around you, but you came back from that to where you are now.
36:40So by example, you're showing them, you can heal, maybe never fully, maybe that's impossible.
36:46I think if anyone who's been through trauma, I know myself, I don't think you ever fully heal, but you, you can get to a place where you find joy in every day and you can function.
36:56What is that your experience?
36:58I think that my experience is healing through my art, through my writing, which is, I was, I wrote many years and I had a lot of novels ready, some, you know, were published and now I'm, I'm trying to break through to my international career as a writer.
37:18So, you know, so, you know, doing something which is like a mission or, or dealing with art and writing, of course, gives you much more hope, but I can tell you that there are purpose, purpose is change.
37:30Exactly, exactly.
37:31I think that so many are not like me or, you know, the everyday life of a PTSD, if you cannot find the company and the hobbies, you know, some like, there are groups for diving together or cycling together, doing sport, going to travel, but you know, so many still feel alone.
37:55So many cannot get out of home and it is our mission as a society to lend them a hand, to give them a hand and tell, and help them.
38:04Ishi, how can people find your book, Dog, which, I mean, it clearly will be a story that is in probably some ways hard to read in terms of, of trauma, but also I'm imagining it's also uplifting and inspiring as well.
38:19Yes, so you can, you can buy it all over in Amazon and in Australia, you can get it in, I think, Autopia book.
38:31Fantastic.
38:32You are global.
38:34You're already global.
38:35Only in the English speaking world, but I'm hoping to be, to be translated and to, to do more.
38:42I cannot wait to read your book.
38:44I'm going to, the second I get offline, I'm going to go to Amazon and I'm going to buy it.
38:48And I cannot wait to read your next book.
38:50I can send it to you.
38:51No, I am, I want to buy it and support you, which is what I will do, because that is the right thing to do.
38:56And I'm very grateful for your generosity, but you have earned that support.
39:00So thank you.
39:01And I hope my, my viewers and my listeners do exactly the same thing.
39:05Bless you.
39:06Thank you for speaking in this space.
39:07Thank you so much, Irene, you're amazing and you do amazing work and I'm following you.
39:13You're a great Zionist and it's amazing what you did after 7th of October.
39:17And I wish I could hug you, but we are far, so.
39:21I will hug you in Melbourne.
39:23I'm a big hugger, except my problem is, Ishi, I keep hugging rabbis because I can't tell the difference.
39:30So I need to get better.
39:31You're amazing.
39:32Thank you for everything you do.
39:33For anyone listening or watching who is struggling with PTSD or maybe doesn't quite realize what it is, reach out.
39:40People care deeply.
39:41Google.
39:41There are so many organizations that will help you and get you the help that you deserve.
39:46Thank you, Ishi again.
39:46And they can also send me questions and I'm always happy to reply and to support and, you know.
39:53You've got a website.
39:54I have a website.
39:55I have my, I'm active on social media and I have many people that write to me and I try really hard to reply all of them.
40:03So, you know.
40:04You're amazing.
40:05Thank you so much.
40:07You're great.
40:07Take care.
40:08Ladies and gentlemen, that almost wraps up the Erin Molan show for today.
40:15I've got some fan feedback for you.
40:17And this is off the back of some of my thoughts following the mass murder of innocent Jewish people and others in Bondi just over a day or so ago now.
40:29I want to thank you for so many incredible messages, so much support.
40:32This community is feeling the love and not just from the global Jewish community, but from all over.
40:37So thank you.
40:38Marshall says, and I'm just reading these blind.
40:40I just pick out a selection of comments and feedback from the YouTube show at this stage.
40:46This is the first time I've seen listen to you and I'm so glad to hear your voice and your perspective on this.
40:50You are so right in all that you say.
40:52I'm an American, and ever since October 7th, I've had a totally different fear level than ever before.
40:57And yesterday when I commented to my kids about this attack, I said that the worst thing about it is that I was not in the least surprised.
41:04As you said, that in and of itself is a terrible thing to accept, as real as it is.
41:09Absolutely spot on.
41:10Fran, new subscriber, loving your content.
41:13Thank you so much.
41:13If you're not subscribed, make sure you join Fran.
41:15Fran has great taste.
41:17Mystic Raccoon.
41:18See, when I see names like that, I think, oh, there's a sledge coming.
41:21But no.
41:22Thank you so much for this powerful message.
41:23I've shared it on all my social media.
41:25Given the thumbs up to the video, have a blessed Christmas.
41:28Stay safe.
41:29Thank you so much, lovely.
41:31YN says, thank you so much for your wise and touching words.
41:34Thank you for making this very difficult video, Scarlett says.
41:38You tell the truth.
41:39It makes you a beautiful human.
41:40Thank you so much.
41:42Howard says, thank you for drawing a line in the sand and calling evil exactly what it is.
41:46Evil.
41:47I've only recently found you.
41:49I live in Texas and don't do social media due to the amount of time I waste scrolling on.
41:52I can relate to that.
41:53We appreciate what you do when someone stands up for good against evil.
41:57Bless you.
41:58Thank you so much for, I don't think it's quite social media, YouTube.
42:01I know it's included in that in Australia's recent ban.
42:04I want to talk about that, by the way, at some stage.
42:07Beryl says, you're a beacon of light.
42:08Thank you so much.
42:10Guys, you are phenomenal.
42:11This feedback, honestly, it just means so, so much given some of the other challenges that come with speaking publicly in this space and standing up for what is right and not bowing to the mob.
42:22So please keep it coming.
42:25You're amazing.
42:26I'm so grateful for it.
42:27For those who are just new to this channel, we do get mean things as well said to me, sometimes about my appearance, just sometimes about me generally.
42:36And I do share those because often they're quite entertaining.
42:40So I promise you, we've just had an influx of really lovely, good comments.
42:43I'm not encouraging you to send bad comments, but I promise when they come, I won't filter them out.
42:48I will bring them to you as well.
42:49So you get a nice, mixed, realistic response to what you're watching.
42:53I love you all.
42:54Thank you so much.
42:54Big show tomorrow, 6 a.m. ET.
42:57Make sure you tune in, share everything, follow, subscribe, comment, yada, yada, yada.
43:02Love you all.
43:03Take care.
43:04Stay safe.
43:05Stay safe.
43:05Bye.
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