I Will Not Apologize for Living

October 7^th brought us to the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists murdered about 1200 people in southern Israel, 250 hostages were put into dark underground tunnels in Gaza in subhuman conditions. Women were violated, babies burned, children and parents killed before each other’s eyes.

Since that horrific day we have witnessed a rise in antisemitic incidents all over the world. Physical assaults on visibly Jewish individuals, shootings and attempted attacks targeting Jewish centers and synagogues, stabbing and assaults in major cities like New York, Paris, London and Berlin, students harassed on campus, and the murder of Jews on the Festival of Light in Bondi Beach.

And now the attempted hijacking of a plane from Dubai to Israel, with the intent to crash it in Israel. The plane was 2.5 minutes away from crashing when, thanks to the heroic actions of the captain, three Israelis managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the copilot. Two reserve pilots on board safely landed the plane in Saudi Arabia.

Social media has spread blood libels and lies about the Jewish people and Israel. Podcasters and wannabe politicians bash Israel to gain likes and popularity.

But what troubles me most is the brainwashing of our own people.

Sisters on Opposite Sides

The week of the High Holidays I spoke in Palo Alto, California. The audience was warm and receptive. I was asked to take questions and a woman stood up.

“I have a problem with what you said. You expressed no compassion for the Palestinians. Not for their children and not for their suffering.”

We looked at each other for a moment. We are after all sisters, part of the same tribe. I took a breath and then responded.

“I am here as a spiritual leader and not as a politician. My talk was about preparing ourselves for the High Holidays. I do, though, feel the need to respond to you. Of course we don’t want any innocent child or adult to die or suffer. But there is a Jewish law that we live by. When one comes to kill you, you must stand up and strike first. We did not ask for this war. We are seekers of peace. But if you are going to set our homes on fire, and murder us while our children are lying in their beds, we will defend ourselves. War is horrible but our enemies do not rest. We must live. With all our might, we must live.

“I will tell you something else. I am proud to be part of this nation. I am proud of our soldiers. Our soldiers have dropped leaflets, made calls, trying hard to preserve the life of innocents while they themselves have lost lives and limbs…”

“No! No!” she shouted out as I was finishing my sentence. Her head shook vigorously.

Who Is Telling Our Story?

We are each allowed to ask questions, to voice opinions, to think out loud and have a conversation. As Jews, we must care about the loss of innocent life while battling against those who want to kill us. But I see a danger here that I must call out.

Others are rewriting our story.

Social media is indoctrinating our youth.

Others claim to speak for us “As a Jew” when they are clueless as to the true meaning of what it means to live as a Jew, and to die because you are a Jew.

We have lost our pride, our shine. We believe that we must apologize for our triumph over evil.

A nation that loses its light is a nation that is plunged into darkness. Light means memory, roots, truth, legacy, heritage, and connection. The moment we begin to doubt our legitimacy, we die.

The Oldest Weapon: Doubt

Amalek is the first nation who tried to destroy us after we exited Egypt. The Jewish People were redeemed after years of slavery and oppression. Amalek came and attempted to nick our spiritual armor. That is why the Hebrew word ‘Amalek’ equals the numerical value of the Hebrew word ‘safek” – doubt. Every generation has its Amalek who tries to destroy us by making us doubt ourselves, our right to exist.

This plan of destructive self-doubt began in Egypt. The Egyptians compared us to insects, multiplying and taking over their land. Their answer was to enslave us and throw our baby boys into the Nile River. We fell into despondency.

Hitler’s murder of six million Jews began with his minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. He worked together with Julius Streicher to dehumanize the Jews. In newspapers, radio speeches, and posters, Jews were depicted as rats, parasites and plague. Schools taught children that Jews were a separate, dangerous species that needed extermination. Tell a lie often enough and it becomes a truth.

Today we see a dangerous trend happening before our eyes. Once again we are being cast as subhuman, undeserving to fight for our very existence. “By any means” we are told. Any violent act done against our nation is okay.

To me, the greatest danger is the self-doubt that has crept into the spirit of too many Jews.

Stand with Pride

I was born upon the ashes of the Holocaust. My bubby for whom I was named walked into the gas chambers of Auschwitz holding her youngest grandchild in her arms. She cried out the words of the Shema and then she was gone.

Yet, I am here, a stubborn shoot of life that refuses to let my story die.

To live with memory means that I know what I live and stand for.

The world is happy to create stone monuments, set up commissions to study the effects of antisemitism, and build another memorial for the Jews. I don’t need your Kaddish.

I call out to my brothers and sisters to stand with pride. Cast away self-doubt. Be passionate for your people. Bear witness and live with memory. Don’t allow others to extinguish the fire in your soul.

We are a nation of lions. Never apologize for living.