Never Again? (#401)

An attempt to process the horrific events in Israel last weekend

I had several ideas for Friday Forward topics this week, but I can’t bring myself to write about any of them as I attempt to process the horrific events in Israel last weekend, and the ongoing aftermath.  

The brutal surprise attack Hamas executed against civilians in Israel this weekend was a display of depravity beyond comprehension, with horrors that remind me of things I have seen in the Holocaust Museum. The attack was orchestrated to kill as many people as possible and involved the murder, torture and desecration of civilians in the streets, the execution of families in their homes, the kidnapping of women and children, the gunning down of hundreds of international teenagers at an outdoor concert, the livestreaming of murders and the joyous display of mutilated corpses.

I am honestly struggling to put into words my thoughts and feelings. So instead, I’m just going to share some of them in the rawness that I’ve experienced them.

This past week, I’ve found myself:

• Appreciating the clarity and objectivity of posts from Yaron Samid and Randi Braun describing what has happened, how your Jewish colleagues may be feeling and what will likely come next.

• Devastated that people can be taught to hate so deeply and be moved to such levels of violent depravity.  

• Stunned at the failure of so many news organizations to state what is a fact; Hamas, the governing body for the Palestinians in Gaza, is a globally recognized terrorist organization known for its brutality. If you have any doubt or confusion about this, please read Hamas’ founding charter, which explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and the death of all Jews. You can also read this article about Hamas’s leadership and origins, or even listen to the words of the son of a founder of Hamas, who explains how five year old kids are taught to hate. What’s most important to know is that Hamas does not seek peaceful coexistence or a two-state solution.

• Surprised at the seeming unwillingness or struggle of so many people and organizations to state what should be obvious: that the targeted, premeditated murder and kidnapping of families, women, children and babies is inhumane, deplorable and beyond moral justification of any kind.

• Thinking that activist Mandana Dayani put it simply and best in this short post.

• In disbelief that many individuals and groups have chosen, in the aftermath of such depravity, to use their platforms to gaslight, rationalize, explain or justify these atrocities. In particular, pro-Hamas sentiment is spewing from elite universities, including Harvard, Stanford and NYU. Over 31 student groups at Harvard signed a statement saying Israel bore full responsibility for the attacks; the statement did not even mention Hamas.

• Repulsed at the number of celebratory events that have occurred. There have been events supporting last weekend’s massacre in London, Toronto, New York and Australia. Please, for a second, imagine parades in your community to celebrate 9/11, the ISIS attacks on Paris, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or George Floyd’s murder?

• Unsurprised that many business leaders, organizations, DEI groups, campus advocates, politicians and athletes who have used their platforms regularly for social justice and anti-hate messaging are notably silent. I don’t necessarily believe silence is violence, but selective silence speaks volumes and people will remember.

• Frustrated at how many people educated by social media junk food feel enlightened enough to weigh in on an extraordinarily complex geopolitical dispute without any real knowledge of the history or facts.

• Curious as to why so many rush to draw distinctions between Hamas and innocent Palestinians, but those same distinctions are not drawn between the Israeli government and the Jewish people, both in and outside of Israel. No government represents the viewpoint of all its people. These double standards were highlighted in this poignant 2021 article by Blake Ezra which foreshadowed these events.

• Haunted after watching videos of the terrorism acts, including a three year old boy being tormented as he cries for his mother and a teenage girl being kidnapped by a group of men.

• Recognizing that Israel, a nation roughly the size of New Jersey, stands as the sole place in the world where Jews can self-govern and ensure their own safety, after enduring the horrors of the Holocaust. It's alarming to note that many still believe Israel shouldn't exist in any capacity.

• Hearing that the Jewish community is running low on empathy and support for others when it is not reciprocated. Sadly, this will lead many to be less generous with their time and resources going forward.

• Saddened for the many innocent Palestinians who will inevitably suffer because of Hamas’ actions.

• Working to demonstrate humanity and empathy to my kids, explaining how these events will impact innocent Palestinians who just want to live a better life.

• Remembering that, after the Holocaust, the phrase that was adopted was “Never Again.” And yet, this weekend, more Jews were killed in a single day than in any time since the Holocaust.

Last, but not least, I am hopeful that it’s darkest before dawn and that this horror and its after-effects pressure everyone towards a more sustainable and peaceful solution.

Quote of The Week

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou

Bob
www.robertglazer.com