‘Just for some hostages’ and 738 equals LIFE

I am horrified at the reaction that I am seeing to the return of our living hostages that were in the hands of Hamas for two years! People love to jump through hoops in order to keep their narrative. The herd mentality, especially in colleges and in otherwise tolerant people is mind boggling. The Jew hatred is so easy to jump to, it just all makes sense to them. I want to share with you examples that I experienced right after October 7 happened, and what I am experiencing in this historical moment with our hostages home.

I have been a Yoga teacher for 25 years in Los Angeles and have met so many beautiful, spiritual and kind people in these healing and open minded spaces. People from all backgrounds and all walks of life, where we appreciated each others stories and unique histories.  Even before October 7, I had become active online as a proud Jew attempting to educate and be a safe space where anyone can ask a Jew a question. I would often respond to comments in a thread, challenging untruths and offering facts and resources. My goal is dialogue, especially in the algorithm vacuum of social media. Luckily, I have friends from one end of every spectrum to the other, so I see all opinions and perspectives.

Can you imagine to my horror and surprise when one of my fellow Yoga teachers, a woman of color, from India and a dancer, all of a sudden came to the realization that Jews were to blame for everything? When I first saw her posts on social media, I reached out as a colleague and friend to talk about my perspective and hear hers. She said two things to me that left me cold in my tracks. She was shocked at the response in Gaza “just for some hostages,” and said that Nova was “just a concert.” I had no words, and it got worse from there.

Once again after the final release of all of our living hostages after two years in captivity, I am appalled at the excuses and justifications that people are talking about to cling on to their narrative. I will just share the gist of what is being said, but I do not feel like putting their names out there. They should be embarrassed, and open to listening to people on the ground. However in the upside down world we live in now, nothing is surprising anymore. Intelligent people make assumptions, and everybody else follows like sheep.

Let’s end on a positive note, and the plain truth that Jews have survived it all and will survive this too. All of the living hostages were returned on day 738, and if you add the three numbers together it equals 18, which means life in the Hebrew letters. They were also returned on Hoshana Raba, which is the final day to ask for all of your needs and prayers. The best part it was right before Simchat Torah, the day they were all kidnapped, so we were so happy go into our culmination of our holidays with pure joy, dancing with our hostages home.

Baruch Hashem,

Only Smachot!

Shabbat Shalom