Learning Through The Fire: A Canadian Jew’s Perspective While Studying in Israel

Last week the IDF came one step closer to peace by assassinating the leader of the political wing of Hamas who was being sheltered in Iran. As a result, the Iranian Regime has ordered a direct strike on Israel – where I am currently living. Israeli intelligence sources say they are expecting an attack of massive proportions and have been posting videos on social media of what to do if an attack were to occur. Although it is unknown what this attack may be, it is commonly thought that Iran may have nuclear capabilities at their disposal. We are expecting this attack to occur at any moment. 

The air in Jerusalem has been thick and humid these past few days, and all of my military friends have been called into service. However, you would not know that there is a threat of a major attack by just walking around this city. There are kids playing in the streets, commercial areas are as busy as ever, and the Western Wall Plaza is always full and bustling with joy. There hasn’t been a day that has gone by during the heavy times I have been here that I haven’t been continuously impressed by the Jewish resilience of this nation. 

The professor I am studying under here told me a story that I believe best encapsulates the essence of the October 7th war and continued hostilities. A few months ago she attended an Israeli wedding in which nearly everyone there was actively serving in the military and therefore dressed in their military uniforms including the bride and groom. She described how she could not stop crying at the thought of these young souls having to go back into the hell of Gaza and possibly not being able to begin their lives together. However as she began to look around the reception, she noticed that not only was there not a single soldier crying, but they were all dancing, singing, and laughing. The distinction was not ignorance or knowledge of current events and tragedies, it was mindset. These soldiers have seen the worst humanity has to offer, yet they have decided to go beyond fear, anxiety, and worry, and into a place in which the enemy does not win the physical or the spiritual battle. 

I have also found in my own post-October 7th life that worry is a useless, harmful emotion. One of my rabbis here explains that the difference between worry and fear is proximity and usefulness. Fear is immediately present and helps us remove harm from our surroundings. Worry is far away and only serves to remove peace from our minds and happiness from our hearts. As beautiful as this sentiment may be, it is one that is easy to apply when living in Hamilton or Toronto, Ontario. Even though my adolescent experiences were quite different from those of the typical Canadian Jew which led to unique lessons learned, it wasn’t until I came to Israel in a time like this that I realized how the fortitude of the mind is forged in fire and tested in hell. This is why the competitive nature of good and evil in this region of the world can lead an individual to tremendous growth in a short period of time. The lessons are taught simply, and we as students do not have the luxury of being complicated like we do in the West. As I sit here preparing for the threat of a massive attack, it is evident how futile any mental barrier to growth actually is. By being forced to confront reality in moments like these, the lessons you need to learn and apply are not a decision, they are a lifeline. 

 So then what is the reality on the ground for a Canadian Jewish student facing the harm that so many of his university peers wished upon him and his people? Through my time here reality has never been clearer in this moment. I will not be afraid of Iranian aggression. I will not cry or feel worried even if missiles are shot at me and ח”ו I must study in a shelter or fight if I have to. No matter what happens, I will be here, in the historical land of my people, and I will enjoy every second of it.