Saturday, October 7
As usual, I wake up Saturday morning intent on completing my massive To-Do list.
And then my brother rings my doorbell and stridently orders me to turn on the television.
And in that moment, the earth beneath my feet shifts.
Hamas attacks Israel
Hundreds kidnapped
Hundreds murdered
Mass chaos
Massive damage
All of us are familiar with the cycle of violence in the Middle East, but this newest incident has encompassed barbaric behavior not seen since the Holocaust.
Agonizing hours later, my husband and I finally hear from our brother-in-law that all of our 30 plus family members living in Israel are safe for the time being.
Sunday Oct 8
Like the assault on our capital on January 6, 2021, the immediate news flashes are so shocking that it is hard to think beyond the immediate moment. As the hours pass, however, disturbing questions emerge:
How could Israel intelligence have not known in advance about Hamas’s murderous plans to descend on Israel by motorcycles, by boats, by vans and by motorized hang gliders, etc.?
Was it complacency or carelessness or betrayal of trusted sources?
Innocent women, babies, elderly and disabled were pulled brutally from their homes on Shabbat to be held hostage in Gaza. This is eerily close to the date of the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. How could this be?
How many of our American citizens are being held hostage or have been murdered?
Just before bed I learn:
Israel has formally declared war on Hamas militants in Gaza
Monday, October 9, 2023
At 7 am on Sunday morning, terrorists in Hamas military pick-up trucks were seen approaching the site of the Supernova music festival, billed as “a journey of unity and love”. Shooting began. Many concert goers were captured, raped, bound and kidnapped. Two hundred sixty concert goers were slain.
As hours pass on Monday, shocking details of concert goers horrific experiences begin to surface.
Hmmm…. I feel an urge to take action – to show solidarity.
Should I go to Fast Signs and have a slew of signs made up proclaiming:
WE STAND WITH ISRAEL
Place them in my yard?
Pass out to friends and family and neighbors?
“We live on a busy corner – wouldn’t that be an awesome show of solidarity?” I excitedly ask my husband.
He vehemently nixes my idea.
Part of me is angry at him,
but a small part of me is relieved.
What vengeance could be released on us personally?
Maybe it’s not such a great idea.
Netanyahu is threatening massive vengeance.
Will other countries whose citizens have been taken hostage join forces with the United States to get them back?
Tuesday, October 10
I attend a solidarity gathering of the Tampa Jewish Community.
The message: Our hearts are shattered as we continue to watch our brothers and sisters in Israel in the midst of war… we come together to support Israel.
Rabbis, dignitaries and representatives of Jewish organizations speak, sing and pray with the capacity crowd of 1000 people gathered together. Gary Gould, Chief Executive Officer of the Tampa JCC and Federation, as always, speaks wisely and eloquently. His closing remarks are succinct and direct:
Am Israel Chai
The People of Israel Live
Wednesday, October 11
I hear a harsh pounding on my front door
Glass shatters
Footsteps – so many footsteps – pound on my wooden stairs
I jump out of bed and cower in my closet
Violently armed and scary looking men pull me out of my hideaway and hurl me – footless and braless – down the stairs and into the black night…..
Startled, I wake up awash in sweat and tears, heart pounding. Sunshine is pouring through my windows and all is as it should be.
I realize it was a dream. A bad nightmare.
But for far too many, it is reality.
Too many have already been taken in just this manner.
Reports of heroism among the Israelis begin emerging.
President Biden pledges our country’s full support.
Thursday, October 12
What can we do?
Gary Gould provides an answer:
Donate
Educate ourselves
Correct social media misinformation
Visit Israel when it is safe
Give blood
Don’t participate or join counter protest events organized by individuals and groups who support the terrorists
Be safe, be strong and live your life
My brother-in-law in Israel provides an answer:
Contact the International Red Cross and demand that they visiraeli hostages who include the elderly, women, children and infants. Reports of rape, torture, abuse and brutality are rampant. Demand that the IRC does its job.
https://www.icrc.org/en/contact#media-contacts
And Shuly Rubin Schwartz, chancellor of JTS, provides an answer:
Let us pray: May we and the inhabitants of the State of Israel live to see the day when mourning will again turn into dancing, sackcloth into robes of joy.
This week? Pretty hard to Keep Preserving Your Bloom, but praying for peace.
Iris Ruth Pastor
