Let the sunshine in

December 27, 2023

Headline on Times of Israel: IDF commando troops operating ‘deep within Khan Younis,’ battling Hamas in north Gaza

All around me is death.

I see large signs and bulletin boards commemorating fallen IDF soldiers on my way to work, with names and photos of them smiling from life.

I get notifications of funerals and shiva houses in my whatsapp groups, notifying people that there are too-small funerals and empty shiva houses that need guests, love, and support.

On the radio, on top of each hour, news headlines play. At the end, they always name new IDF heroes who have fallen in battle against Hamas. We are up to 164.

Fallen soldiers. Photo credit: IDF

We are in the thick of the war now, deep in Hamas territory, even as we go about our every day lives – fewer rockets than ever (thank gd). I know several guys who are being released next week from miluim (reserves) and serving in Gaza. Makes no sense to me, but maybe the Ministry of Defense knows more and isn’t releasing the information. I hope so.

Everyone knows someone who has fallen or been injured. They don’t talk about that – the number of soldiers who are injured in this war. The longest war since our War of Independence in 1948, now 82 days.

They don’t talk about how long wives have been without husbands, children without parents. It’s quieter outside (fewer sirens), but it’s also quieter.

I’m hoping this is the last bit of darkness before the sun arises to shine again.
I’ve never wanted so badly to be right (but I don’t think I am).