The entire Jewish world is reeling.
Our enemies are ruthless and sadistic; their barbarism unprecedented.
To live at a time when six Jews can be murdered in cold blood, execution style, is unthinkable. Nauseating. Infuriating. Incomprehensible.
Carmel.
Alexander.
Almog.
Ori.
Eden.
Hersh.
They are our family. Our brothers and sisters. Each one an entire world.
And the silence is deafening.
My family and I were in Israel when we heard the news. We watched the protests break out. And then the counter-protests. It felt like the entire country was protesting. The emotions were so raw, the pain so deep, everyone felt the need to do something.
Sunday night we were in Tel Aviv and couldn’t get back to Jerusalem because the roads were closed due to the protests. Then my sister sent me a notice that the airport was going to be shut down by a strike the next day, exactly when we were scheduled to fly back to New York.
We decided to wake up early and hope for the best, bracing ourselves for a long day at the airport. We arrived at 7:30 am and immediately noticed news and camera crews on hand to witness the strike, which was set to begin at 8:00 am. At 8:07 am we were at the El Al check-in counter and I asked the attendant, “Is there a strike today?” She looked at her watch and said, “Well, yes, there is supposed to be one and I am supposed to be striking, but I don't know …” Thank G-d, we made it onto the flight and the flight left on time.
We needed to get back so the kids could start school on time, but like the protesters, I too feel like I need to do something. We all do. The pain is so raw, the fury so potent. What should we do? What can we do? How can this be happening?
The truth is, we don’t have the answers.
Obviously, the military will do everything in its power to rescue the rest of the hostages and eliminate our ruthless and brutal enemy.
But we simply don’t understand G-d’s ways. How could He allow such evil to exist in His beautiful world?
Amidst all of this pain, Jon Goldberg-Polin’s words at his son Hersh’s funeral struck a chord. “May the memory of my son be a revolution.”
Now that is something we can do. We need to create a revolution with the tools at our disposal: kindness. Nothing is more powerful in the face of evil than love and kindness.
The terrorists don’t differentiate between religious or non-religious Jews, between right-wing and left-wing Jews. To them, we are all simply Jewish.
We too, must not differentiate. Love all Jews equally. We only have each other. Ignore the differences; embrace unity. We share a core, an essence, a soul. When we are united, no force in the world can break us.
The terrorists sow evil, it’s up to us to harvest kindness. Give charity, even when it’s hard. Invite guests for Shabbat, even when you’re tired. Go out of your way to help others, even if it’s inconvenient.
Do it for us.
Do it for Carmel, Eden, Ori, Hersh, Almog and Alexander.
Do it for the remaining hostages who we desperately hope will be returned alive soon.
May Moshiach come now, end all evil, and reunite us with all our Jewish brothers and sisters. Amen.