My heart has been burdened every day since October 7 – grief for the loss of Israeli life; anger at this Israeli government for not doing more to bring the hostages home; compassion for Israelis in the north and south who lost family, friends and their homes; concern for the Palestinian civilians of Gaza who have suffered so deeply; worry over what appears to be the widening of the war against Hamas to include Hezbollah and Iran.
I worry about the diminishing good name of the State of Israel throughout the world, the rise of antisemitism everywhere, and that so many – Jews and our enemies – have lost their moral compass and resorted to war instead of diplomacy to solve our problems.
Despite the worry and angst I feel, I’m inspired by Israel’s civil society, the commitment of so many Israelis to take care of each other, for the strength and constancy of the Diaspora Jewish world to support Israel and Israelis even as so many of us are distressed by the extremism of Israel’s government.
In listening recently to a few of the 130 Israeli Reform rabbis serving communities throughout Israel and what they are planning to say to their communities during these Yamim Noraim, High Holy Days, I was inspired.
One spoke of the necessity of everyone doing small acts of gemilut chasadim, deeds of loving-kindness, as a means of growing from the trauma of the war. Another spoke of the power of Judaism to effect teshuvah, a return to one’s truest self, to family, to community, to Judaism and the Jewish people, and to the best in the human spirit. Another spoke about Diaspora and Israeli Jews being partners and members of the same family as we fight together for human dignity, life and freedom.
I hope that this New Year 5785 will be one of safety and sanity for our people and all peoples in the Middle East, that the work we do at J Street on behalf of peace, justice and security for Israel-Palestine will be joined with other good people who seek what we seek for our people and all peoples. I wish for everyone in our broad J Street community and for all those they love a New Year of hope and peace.
This piece is part of a series of reflections from the J Street community. Read the rest of the reflections here.