PERIOD.

     A little mark, a dot, on a piece of paper. A word used for and with emphasis, making a point. It can be written or oral, but this little dot or its name carries a big punch.
     Yesterday and this  morning I  saw that concept of 'period' used several times. A sentence was broken into single words, each having a period after it. The word period was used by De Blasio to make a point, that mass funerals are not allowed period. His point? That lives needed to be saved and that took precedence over all else. Period.
     The word period also means a segment of time, from that defining a time in a classroom to the other end, a segment, an era, of time in history and what makes it special - or not. Yesterday I had a day off, a period of time in which I was absorbed in observing two special days, one of mourning, and one of joy that sent a firm message to the world.
      Immediately after Passover there is a period of time during which the emotions of Israelis, of Jews, all around the globe, bounce from one extreme to another. First there is Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day, on the date that Israel set for us to mourn our destroyed, a loss for all time, a significant and telling piece of history covered in blood, a time of despair and horror beyond the power of the most descriptive of words, yet also a message, strangely enough, of hope. Period.
     Immediately upon its heels, there is day of grief beyond description, for it is a loss that is not from the past, but from the present and the future as well, as the lives of so many young men and women, in the prime of life, a whole life ahead of them, their futures ripped out by its roots, an echo of the poison that served as the underlying reasoning for the Holocaust and the continuing anti Semitism, anti Zionism that are both the same thing. 
      It is a day of tears, a day of sirens that rip into the soul of the nation as we mark yet another slaughter of Jews, for that is what it is. It is the determination of the world to see that Jews be wiped out. All through history there has been one attack after another, law after law passed to destroy the possibility of life of any value for Jewry. Forced conversions, burnings, slaughter by means most horrible, blamed for being the ruination of the world, conspiring against it, and killed for any reason - or none at all -. Period.
     But at the end of the day, as sunset approaches, there is a gradual lightening of the mood, and the music on the radio begins a transition from that of mourning and grief to something else. Suddenly, there is the sound of the shofar, the ram's horn, ringing out throughout the land. And the joy begins. The promises of Jews to themselves, the promises of the Lord Above brought to life once again. It is Yom Haatzmaut - Israel Independence Day, not a day of shopping, but a day of joy, of family, of patriotism, an in your face declaration to the world, to enemies and supposed friends, that we are here. Period. We will always be here. Period.
     And we remember. Even in the midst of joy we remember the cost, the pain, the loss. Many of us have gone deep into our family history. Who were our ancestors and where did they live? Where had they gone when exiled from one country. One point we all have in common? Somewhere along the line we all suffered losses, had family blood spilled, women raped, small children spitted on bayonets, for such is the horror found in anti Semitism. As for me, I found family, found my namesake, a long desired and hard search and take pride that I am 100% Jewish, knowing that throughout a long and hard, often merciless existence, the chain of my family has never been broken. It gives comfort to one to have that knowledge of belonging, to know that history, as bad as it has been shown to be, that history makes that point - we are here. 
     We are here. Despite the efforts of huge empires, we are here. Period. Despite the laws, the persecution, the terrible odds against us, we are here. Period. We are here and no nasty mouths who belong in the prehistoric time of history, no creep whose dream is to kill, no hatred will defeat us. We are here. Period. We will mourn as we must, but we will also rejoice. That is our life history. We know it and despite the fact that we have made a comfortable home here in America, and are proud Americans, there is always that niggling feeling, that percentage of insecurity, despite all that we have given to the world and to this country and other countries where we also live.
     Think times have changed? Not really. The world is engulfed by a modern plague. Among those blamed for it, the blaming of the Jews is right up front. It seems that we Jews have nothing else to do but plot and plan, come up with nefarious deeds, even as we lose our people too, to the same wars and disease. But hatred, irrational and poisonous, continues to exist. Why? There is no reasoning, no rational explanation for an irrational hatred. It is unexplainable. Period. Trying to give it reasons is simply legitimizing it and that goes for all hatred of 'others'.
     The point of this piece is to explain some of the pain that Jewry has felt over the generations, its losses not confined to quality of life, but to life, to existence at all. It is perhaps to have people understand that the undertone comments by the legendary office water cooler are still being made. The physical attacks upon them here, in Israel, and in countries round the world are still taking place, even growing in these troubled times. The hatred that is found in the term DWB - driving while black - is not unique to people of color. 
     Hatred is rampant. It is growing amidst encouraging words and deeds, fostered by people who should know better. It is found in major newspapers in cartoons, and words, by people who should - and do - know better but choose to allow it.
     Hatred must be fought. It must be defeated. When will this happen? When people realize that color, skin tone, religion, whatever flimsy excuse is used as a linchpin for hate, nothing matters for underneath it all it is skin that covers us all. It is the same construction of organs. It is the same blood that runs through the veins and arteries. It is the same desire that we all have - to live a good life, help others, love our families and not be hurt or hurt others, and see a future for our children. Period. Those who wish otherwise, well, those are the twisted leaders and the weak kneed followers who need to be shown the truth. When? I wish I knew, I really do.
     In the meanwhile, we mourn and rejoice. As do other nations in their times during the year. And we wonder, as we laugh and cry at the same time. When will this stop? When will there be no more constant plans to get rid of us, to wipe us out? When will people of hate learn from history, understand that WE. ARE. HERE. Here we will remain. And flourish. And help build a better world. Period. Period. Period.
       Am Yisroel Chai. The nation of Israel lives.
  And will continue to live, please G-d, for all time.  In the meanwhile, as do all others, we will attempt to be well, stay well - and alive - and be safe. And we wish and hope that sentiment for the entire beleaguered world. May all hate be vanquished and may we all know the joy without the sorrow.   PERIOD!