Ellen Geller Kamaras
It is extremely painful for us to process that the Israel-Hamas war has continued for over a year.
One year ago, the most horrific massacre since the Holocaust occurred to the Jewish people. We all prayed that Hamas would release the hostages long before this anniversary. We could not fathom they would not be home more than one full year later.
Due to security concerns, many of the October 7th commemoration program times were announced but locations were not shared publicly for fear of violence. It is shocking to see the hatred that was unleashed with so many pro-Palestinian protests on the one-year anniversary of October 7th.
The World’s Response
Roger Cohen, an op-ed columnist for the International NY Times, reporting from Tel Aviv, summarized the world’s initial and subsequent reactions to the brutal events of October 7th:
Much of the world understood Israel’s reaction, at least for a moment. But quickly, a Palestinian narrative of Israeli “genocide” in Gaza gained traction. The catastrophe, then, was not Israel’s, but that of the Palestinian people, systematically oppressed, in this telling, by a ruthless Israel intent for decades on dispossessing them.
Cohen also cited the broad embrace of the Palestinian cause as an extension of movements for racial and social justice in the United States.
The Rise of Anti-Semitism Close to Home
Hate crimes and anti-Semitic incidents are growing and continue to threaten us with accompanying violence. They are no longer faraway news reports but they are happening in our own neighborhoods. Just recently, a Jewish spa owner’s windows were broken in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, less than a mile from my home.
College students still feel dangerously vulnerable and are grappling with anti-Semitism and pro-Palestinian factions on campus.
Many Israelis have been displaced from their homes due to the war in Gaza and the war in the North. There are whole communities and kibbutzim near the Gaza border that remain in ruins, as they were on October 7th,
We continue to pray that Hamas will release the remaining hostages (including the bodies of those killed) even while the war intensifies and grows.
How Are We Stronger?
Many have said one year later and one year stronger. How are we stronger?
Israel has been blessed with open miracles this past year as the country faced fierce battles to eliminate Hamas and then Hezbollah.
Jews have set aside their differences and have come together to defend Israel.
Israel has been fighting an existential war, both in terms of security and its Zionist and democratic values. We are fighting for Israel’s right to exist and survive.
Last month, at the October 7th memorial at Congregation Bnai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights, Dr. Yair Ansbacher, an Israeli counter-terrorism expert, explained that, in reality, the war is not against Hamas only or Hezbollah only, but is against Iran. Iran pulls the strings and shapes the Middle East by Islamist proxies. These include Hamas in the South (Gaza), Hezbollah in the North (Lebanon), Jihad in Judea and Samaria and the Palestinian territories, the Houthis in Yemen, and others in Iraq and Bahrain.
In spite of the surge in anti-Semitism, we continue to use our Jewish mindset and practice values of optimism, faith, hope, and positivity. Most importantly, we try to exercise resilience.
After October 7th, Jewish resilience meant the creation of a new normal. Resilience requires not only perseverance but also the ability to adapt to adverse events. Yossi Klein Halevi is an American-born Israeli author and journalist. Halevi said, “Even as we maintain the pretense of daily life (in Israel), a part of us is permanently alert.”
Consequences of October 7th
Friends asking each other: where were you when you heard about what happened on October 7th? has the same ring as asking: where you on 9/11? That date of October 7th, and what it represented, was like 9/11 – so shocking, which provoked such deep mourning for so many innocents.
The Black Shabbat and the unprovoked war triggered a myriad of feelings including shock, despair, pain, depression, grief, and anger.
However, as a result of October 7th, there was a surge of Jewish unity and pride both in Israel and globally.
Israeli citizens of all political affiliations and religious orientations came together. Protests condemning Netanyahu and decrying the proposed judicial reform abated. Signs and bumper stickers popped up all over Israel with the slogan b’yachad nenatzayach – together we will win. In religious communities “bezrat Hashem” was added. This slogan was printed on the outside wrappers of paper towels, on signs welcoming drivers to cities across the country, on posters along the highways, and in the windows of homes and stores everywhere. Reservists who had previously refused to appear for duty lined up to serve. Reservists flew into Israel from all over the world – not just vacationers backpacking in India and Thailand, but even Israelis who had settled abroad and who had been away for years.
An Increase in Religious Observance
Nova survivors began observing Shabbat. This past March, the wildly popular Israeli comedian Hochman Guy called on his Tik Tok followers to help him reach one hundred thousand Jews to observe to the upcoming Shabbat for the first time in their lives. “We will show our enemies what kind of people we are,” he said. He told his followers that this would be the very first time he would be observing Shabbat.
More Israeli soldiers began wearing tzitzit, as volunteers around the country worked tirelessly to affix the strings and tie them properly. Rabbi Asher Weiss, a well-respected Israeli posek, originally from Borough Park, gave a psak allowing women to tie tzitzit, as well. More Israeli men are donning tefillin. Community member Linda Cohen, along with Ramona Mizrahi, launched the leilui nishmat project in memory of Ramona’s brother. They collect used tefillin along with donations to purchase new tefillin and send them to Israel for soldiers.
Jews in the Diaspora began to rethink their priorities and what it means to be a Jew in the U.S. and in other countries. They began returning to shul, lighting Shabbat candles, and displaying their Jewish identity by wearing Jewish stars, kippot, and “Bring Them Home Now” necklace tags.
Jews across the globe are affirming their belief in Israel’s right to exist as our homeland.
Anti-Semitism Spikes
The Israel-Hamas war has caused a spike in anti-Semitism outside of Israel, particularly in the U.S. and in Europe.
The Atlantic magazine recently published an article by Dara Horn titled: October 7 Created a Permission Structure for Anti-Semitism, with the subtitle: What American Jews have experienced in the past year is both a pattern and a warning.
The U.S. Holocaust Museum reports that since October 7th an unprecedented wave of anti-Semitism, Holocaust distortion, and Holocaust denial has swept the globe.
As of October 10th, the Israeli prime minister’s office lists 97 hostages still held in Gaza, and has confirmed 34 of them as dead, bringing the estimated number of living hostages to 63. Unbelievably, posters with pictures of the hostages are still being ripped down on college campuses.
“I am not the same person I was before October 7th.”
This phrase articulates how many Israelis and Diaspora Jews feel after October 7th. Many experienced distress and pain that will plague them forever. Some turned to Shabbat observance, like Ori and his wife who miraculously survived the Nova massacre.
Other survivors vow to live their best lives to honor their friends whose lives were cut short.
And the Jewish value of optimism still prevails.
The phrase “we will dance again” became a mantra and is also a reflection of our Jewish values of hope and resilience.
A 90-minute documentary film, “We Will Dance Again,” was produced about the victims and survivors of the Nova Music Festival. A special preview was screened in London on September 24th.
The slogan “never again” was used by liberated prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp to denounce fascism. The slogan was popularized by Jewish Defense League founder Rabbi Meir Kahana in his 1971 book, Never Again! in reference to the Holocaust. The Anti-Defamation League updated this saying to “Never is now” for the world’s largest summit against anti-Semitism and hate this past March.
The Shoah Foundation is in the process of documenting the testimonies of survivors of October 7th.
Community Support
Jewish communities worldwide bolstered our brothers and sisters in Israel in many ways. Significant financial donations have been made to vital organizations such as ZAKA, Magen David Adom, and United Hatzalah by synagogues, individuals, and not-for- profits. Hesed funds raise money for widows and children of fallen soldiers, for displaced Israeli families, and for army boots and other essential equipment. Israeli farmers and companies also need our help.
Community member, Victor Cohen, beautifully conveys our community’s meaningful response to October 7th. Our community has helped the soldiers and citizens of Israel emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Victor noted, “We have been seeking to deepen our connection to the land and to the people of Israel. We pray for the welfare of our brothers and sisters, send financial aid, and organize shipments of supplies. One of the most crucial activities we have done, though, is to go to Israel ourselves.” Several Jersey Shore solidarity missions headed to Israel in the wake of October 7th. The groups packed food boxes, visited the Gaza envelope where the attacks took place, including going to the Nova Festival site and nearby kibbutzim. They visited injured soldiers, Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, and much more. No one was left unaffected by what they saw, and from their conversations with Israelis they met.
Last December, ten community members, including Rabbi David Ozeri and Rabbi David Sutton, traveled to Israel to show their support. They visited leading rabbis in Yerushalayim to provide hizuk and to deliver financial assistance for their yeshivot. Jack E. Rahmey wrote, “While the IDF employs military force against our enemies, we believe that learning Torah and praying to Hashem are potent weapons, as well. Unity as a nation ensures the presence of Hashem and guarantees our survival.” Their trip also included hesed, visiting the hostages’ families and injured soldiers, seeing the charred remains of kibbutz homes, dancing with soldiers up North, and giving tzedakah to yeshivot in Bnai Brak and other parts of Israel.
There were community gatherings, online events including virtual tours of Israel, readings, and other commemorations held to honor the victims and learn about the lessons of October 7th.
- At some events people stood in silence while the names of those who were killed were read, including IDF soldiers and hostages.
- Films were screened that depicted the story of the hostages and their families.
- Many participated in mitzvot such as learning Torah and doing hesed. Many individuals took on a new mitzvah.
- Art projects were conducted, such as drawing the red anemone, Israel’s national flower, as a symbol of unity.
- A global Simchat Torah project was initiated to honor those who were lost on October 7th by adorning Torah scrolls with special covers.
- A virtual tour of an exhibition at the Anu [from the Hebrew word for “we” or “us”] Museum of the Jewish People at the Tel Aviv University that examines how Israeli culture has reacted to the war.
- The Lookstein Center at Bar-Ilan University created educational resources to help students worldwide to meaningfully remember the October 7th events.
What You Can Do
Keep praying for the speedy return of our hostages and the protection of our soldiers, members of the security forces, and search and rescue teams. Pray for the Jews in Israel and for the refuah sheleima of our holim.
Join a WhatsApp Tehillim group. Join Partners in Protection to be matched up with a partner for learning Torah. The commitment is to learn together for just ten minutes a week, learning in the merit of a specific soldier (partnersinprotection.org/iotg).
Take on a new mitzvah.
Donate to organizations in Israel.
Volunteer locally or in Israel. Raise funds for Israel in your shul or for an organization. Recognize that Israeli soldiers are not just fighting for Israel but for Jews around the world. Go on a mission to Israel, volunteer on a kibbutz, or other place with a labor shortage, such as farms or school.
Attend solidarity rallies.
To strengthen our college students, the Israel Campus Coalition inspires U.S. college students to see Israel as a source of pride and empowers them to stand up for Israel on campus.
Advocate for Israel by writing to your government representatives using easy-to-use templates.
Be united and be there for each other and find comfort in your family and community.
Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. Ellen is active in her community and is currently the Acting President of Congregation Bnai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).