Sabine Sterk: Time to Stand Up for Israel: A Moral Duty Beyond Politics
When I first set foot on Israeli soil at just eleven years old, I knew something inside me had changed forever. It was Haifa, in the middle of the night. The boat from Europe had docked, and though I was a child, what I felt that night is still impossible to put into words. As a non-religious person, I experienced a homecoming that transcended faith. Israel’s energy, the sense of unity, and the miracle of a young nation building itself against all odds left me with admiration that has only deepened over the decades.
That sense of belonging was not an accident. My parents taught me from the earliest age that Israel is not just another country on the map; it is a living testament to justice, courage, and survival. My mother, who was raised to love Israel by her father, a decorated WWII resistance fighter, taught me that true love is unconditional. To love Israel is to defend Israel. It is not about salaries, status, or convenience. It is a moral duty.
That duty was tested when my parents volunteered in intelligence work for Israel at great personal risk. We lived in Damascus, just steps away from the square where Eli Cohen was executed. My brother and I often sensed that something was happening, though we didn’t know the details. Looking back, I realize the risks were enormous. But in our family, the moral imperative outweighed fear. If I had to make the same choices today, I would do so without hesitation. Because the love of Israel is greater than fear.
This is why I founded Time To Stand Up For Israel (TTSUFI). In a world fractured by ideology and poisoned by disinformation, we needed a movement that stood on two clear, non-negotiable principles:
- Israel has the right to exist.
- Israel has the duty to defend itself.
Everything else, politics, religion, personal egos, is secondary. Too often, pro-Israel groups divide themselves into factions: Christian vs. Jewish, pro-Netanyahu vs. anti-Netanyahu, two-state vs. one-state. Division is our greatest weakness. Israel’s survival demands unity, and unity can only exist when we rise above politics.
Building TTSUFI has not been easy. It costs us money, energy, and safety. I wore a bulletproof vest during some protests and learned the hard way to never turn your back on a hostile crowd. But these struggles have forged resilience. They taught us how to stay alert, how to tell the truth under pressure, and how to focus on the audience that matters most: not the haters, whose minds we will never change, but the uninformed majority who are still open to truth.
The most powerful example of dialogue transforming confrontation came when I spoke with an Iranian man at one of our actions. What began with hostility ended with respect, not because I compromised the truth, but because I looked him in the eyes and stood firmly in it.
Since October 7, 2023, the world has changed. Instead of empathy for the Jewish lives brutally taken, Israel was demonized. Antisemitism, once hidden in whispers, now marches proudly in our streets. Many of our supporters are afraid to show up for rallies. And yet, our mission has never been more urgent. The truth must be told. Silence is surrender.
In TTSUFI, we are building from the ground up: growing our presence online, fighting propaganda with facts, removing lies before they spread, and writing daily for outlets like Times of Israel, Algemeiner, and IsraelSeen. LinkedIn, despite its bias against Israel, is one of our key platforms, because professionals with influence are watching. And while others polish their words to be politically correct, we speak honestly, respectfully, but without compromise.
Our dream is not just survival. Itnity. Unity among all who believe Israel’s existence is non-negotiable. Unity to confront antisemitism in schools, streets, and digital spaces. Unity to protect Jewish students, families, and future generations from the toxic tide of hate.
When asked why I continue, despite threats, bans, and betrayals, my answer is simple: because love is greater than fear. Because truth is greater than propaganda. Because Israel is worth standing up for.
As I shared with Roberto Busel on his podcast Un Café con Kavana, building bridges is not enough; we must also defend them when they are under attack.
Watch the full episode here: Un Café con Kavana – Interview with Sabine Sterk
This is our moment. If you believe truth still matters, if you believe Israel’s light must not be extinguished, then join us. Share. Support. Time To Stand Up For Israel.
Because when we stand together, Israel stands stronger.
