A Fork in the Road… Fear or Fight

Have you ever felt like you were at a fork in the road? We all know we won’t see an actual “fork”—there is a deeper meaning. Life’s twists and turns put us in situations where we come face to face with this metaphorical crossroads. I believe that, as a people, we have faced this fork before, and now more than ever, we must ensure we stay on the right path.

This past week, the world has shown its true colors. The heartbreaking loss of a vibrant couple has crippled Jewish communities worldwide. They were shot while attending an event meant to bring people together. Fear has crept into our lives, reaching levels only our grandparents and great-grandparents knew.

I had a conversation with someone about people taking down their mezuzahs. I read an article about Jewish individuals choosing not to wear anything that symbolizes their faith. I spoke to my dad about how people are resorting to whispering in public places so others won’t hear if they’re discussing Israel. I look for armed guards before deciding to attend services. And—let’s be honest—how many times have you said to yourself, “Oh my God, I go to Jewish events too”? This fear is valid. We all feel it.

Society has brought us to this fork in the road: fear or fight. My fear is that we stop fighting. My fear is that fear overtakes you at the fork, leading you down the path of hiding. We’ve taken this road before. It has led us to a life underground—a life where our identities were hidden so thoroughly that some people discovered years later that they were Jewish. It’s a life that restricts all our possibilities. This road isn’t a way to live, and living is at the very core of who we are.

I would never tell you what to do; we’re surrounded by enough of that. I will tell you what I am doing. I am choosing the road that allows my mezuzah to stay exactly where it is. It’s a long road, but it needs us. It needs us to fight. It needs us to turn fear into fight. It needs our strong stance—a stance that will show the world nothing can knock us down. Without us, this road would dry out and turn to dust.

This road needs us to bring humanity back into the world.