Dear {{first_name}},
I have often said that the quantity and intensity of the tears we cry are directly correlated to the love and joy we have for something or somebody. The more hurt we feel, the more we love. The amount of tears and hurt we feel today is immeasurable and there are no words to adequately express them to others. Many of us have visited Israel, once or multiple times, and have nothing but fond memories for that sacred land we call home. Many of us have been raised with Israel bonds as gifts and utilizing Jewish National Fund (JNF) tzedakah boxes to raise money for trees. Our relationship with Israel began not when we breathed our first breath, but thousands and thousands of years ago when Avraham left his father’s house and went to that majestic land. It’s no accident that we’ve always prayed facing east and that all our prayers include words about the land and the city of Jerusalem. Israel is part of our DNA… it's part of our identity.
Each one of us has taken time to attend cultural gatherings in the past and we never had to think about not going back home after the event ended. Each of us has locked the doors to our homes and not worried about someone infiltrating nevertheless. Each of us has attended a funeral or prayed for a sick loved one but none of us has ever had to choose which to attend first and second and so on or the order in which to pray for our loved ones. Today, all this is in the past and we’re now in a new world that has been forever changed by terror, hate, bigotry and a basic lack of fundamental humanity that a five-year-old should know and understand.
Each of us is glued to our phones and our TVs looking for some kernel of good news and yet no such news exists. The Israelis haven’t been able to declare they’re 100% in control of their territory yet and there’s still no concrete knowledge of the extent of the loss. We still don’t know how many of our loved ones are being held against their will and we still don’t know how we can get them back to their families. At the same time, I refuse to give up hope. Israel has been the great conveyor and teacher of hope to the Jewish people and to the world. When all else seemed impossible, Israel managed. When Israel endured darkness unlike anything the world had seen, Israel persevered. Israel’s continued existence is all about hope. We hope for a brighter tomorrow and a peaceful tomorrow. We hope for our ability to continue to exist in a world and that one day the world will accept us. Hope is something we are forbidden to let go of.
Emotions are swirling around my brain and I’m sure they are around yours as well:
Anger: How dare they murder, kidnap, maim, terrorize and torture our people? How dare anyone try to justify this depravity? We left Gaza in 2005 and handed it over to the Palestinians. If they want to build a state, then build a state. If they want to operate a country, then operate a country. The reality is they don’t want Gaza or the West Bank or Jerusalem… they want Eilat, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias and everything in between. They refuse to accept us as people and instead have built generations on lies about us and hatred of us.
Sadness: Children without parents and parents without children. Spouses torn apart and whole families destroyed. Children being forced to fight a war against an enemy who will not act in accordance with the same basic rules and morals we’ve trained our soldiers to employ. I’m sad because this promised sacred land is soiled again with the blood of the innocent. I’m sad because people who were simply living their lives have lost their lives far too soon. I’m sad because our family is grieving being the victims of another vicious pogrom. I’m sad because I truly want a peace for Israel that would assure a beautiful future. I’m sad because this is not the world we were promised or that we deserve.
Scared: Yes, I am scared. I’m scared we cannot keep ourselves and our families safe. I’m scared because I wear a kipah everywhere I go and there are real evil people in the world who want to hurt me and my community. I’m scared this war will not end with us being victorious. I’m scared we don’t know enough and thus this can happen again. I’m scared hate could succeed and we could lose everything. I’m scared the terror we’re experiencing could turn us into the beasts we’re fighting. I’m scared for us and I’m scared for the Jewish world.
Love: I feel love for our people and our land. I feel love for our tradition and our convictions. I feel love for our way of seeing and experiencing the world. I feel love for our friends and relatives who are standing guard over our sacred birthright… the land of Israel. I feel love for the parts of the world who have come to our aid and who are standing with us. I feel love for Israelis and all they do for the Jewish world.
Helplessness: I’m an American Jew living outside of Israel. I have no critical skills they need at this time. I feel so small and unable to help. The reality is I’m not alone here, in America, in feeling this way. But I’m also not alone amongst the world Jewish population… Israelis are feeling helpless as they watch in horror. Helplessness is an excruciating feeling and one that can be crippling. At the same time, it’s something that need not be a reality. Each of us needs to stay up to date on the latest events in Israel. I recommend looking at Israeli news sites like timesofisrael.com or jpost.com or any others you like to read. American news like CNN and Fox also have information, but it sometimes can be a bit out of date. Additionally, we might choose to watch around the clock news as I have been, but we need to recognize it’s okay to take a break. We cannot be so glued to the news that we cause ourselves intense mental anguish. We can reach out to all our friends and family in Israel to check in on them. It’s important to not just look at their physical safety but also their emotional safety. If we find ourselves on Facebook and/or other social media, please take the time to not just merely “share” other posts, but to include your own feelings and thoughts on what’s going on.
Tomorrow night, please join our entire Atlanta Jewish community at the rally in Sandy Springs. Please see the details below and note advanced registration is required. We’re also part of the larger Sephardic world and there will be a vigil tomorrow night at 8:30 pm online that’s being arranged by the Sephardic Brotherhood. It’s our belief that being in person to show unity and love is preferable, but if you are unable to physically attend the rally, the online event is a good option. Click here to register for the Sephardic Brotherhood Zoom.
Am Yisrael Chai
Rabbi Hearshen
