We the People

The October Seventh – the unthinkable, the unimaginable happened here on Israeli soil. The incomprehensible evil that so many innocent people endured – are still enduring. The loss of life – of soul, so many were taken into a void, and have yet to be found. And even those that were found and returned, are reliving the nightmarish hell of their time in captivity over and over again – and may do so for a long time to come.
Our hearts were left broken and bleeding. We are still bleeding.
I was prompted to write this after reading Michal Kaifan’s latest opinion piece, ‘The end of the age of compassion.’ I can think of no one better to write on this subject then Michal Kaifan, who took it upon herself to accompany many of the hostages’ families – and all of us, throughout this horrific war. She writes in a loud, clear voice – not just her own opinion, but the opinion of many of us who have felt lost, bereft of hope.
I want to pause here. In Hebrew, חמלה can also mean pity. Indeed, the word compassion means different things to different people. According to the Dalai Lama: “There lies in all of us the ‘seed of compassion’, and it sprouts from our experiences of being nurtured by others. Compassion is actually a skill that can be perfected and nurtured, something that can be learned and developed.”
Psalm 33 verse 5: Lover of righteousness and justice, Gd’s GRACE FILLS THE EARTH.
As Israelis, we must all find a way back to each other. We must find the grace, or compassion that Hashem has shown us – and find out how to incorporate that back into our daily lives. How can we find peace – build true peace – when even among ourselves, there is no peace? The Zionist in me is a believer in prayer and peace. I also believe in our innate ability to show compassion and grace. These words are so close in meaning, חמלה + חסד – No matter what your beliefs, both of these are attainable. We, those that live in this land of Israel – we not only possessed these – but we once acted with both grace and compassion – without even thinking.
I know I have been on the receiving end of both of these many times. Which one of you came up to me when I tripped down the steps of a shop in Haifa, helping me up, offering me water? Which of you (many) came up to me in the supermarket, reminding me to put a hat on my baby’s head to protect him from the strong air conditioner? How many of you have covered the charge of a sandwich or falafel and soda for a soldier whose pockets were empty? Who of us has seen a child crying at the park, on the sidewalk, in the mall – and asked if she was lost, did she need help finding her mother or father? Who has not bought extra groceries to put in the bin for the needy before a holiday? Who has not comforted a crying elder in the street, in the kupa, on the bus? Who has not paid for a city bus ticket for a soldier, an elder, a mother…? I could go on. I will go on. We must all go on. These are the behaviors of our people.
We, the people – all of us peoples living in Israel, Eretz Yisrael must find a way back to who we are and have always been.
I am a Zionist. I believe in prayer and also in peace. The Israel I chose to live in was one of compassion and grace. Israel is a country whose citizens are propelled by compassion and grace. We are a people who care and take action; a people who, upon hearing about the attack in the south, before even knowing the extent of the devastation and anguish – pulled together and traveled south to help save and protect. Because that is what it means to be Israeli – to be compassionate, to act with grace. Being Israeli also means standing up for each other – and knowing that we will always be here for one another.
This has been one of the most difficult times in our collective history. Our ‘leaders’ are not examples of what it means to be Israeli. We all know that. And we must all do our part – and not follow these leaders into darkness – not follow their example of indifference, callousness and cruelty. They are following their pockets and will lead us to our own destruction.
We the People
But we are Israelis – Jewish, Arab, Christian, Muslim, Druze – religious, secular – ISRAELIS.
We do not need to follow them – we are not lost sheep.
We do need to stand up FOR EACH other, not against one another.
We need to find our compassion, our grace.
We need to reclaim our identity as overbearing, overly involved, compassionate people, who reach out to one another, strangers – not strangers.
We need to come back to who we can be – supportive, offering a hand, a bottle of water, a hug – a coffee, a meal.
We must find each other, our common ground – and we must do this now.
Our children need us, the hostages, the soldiers, their families – we cannot give up.
Now is the time.
Now is the time.
Now is the time.
In the end, what will come next is up to each of us.