Heaven help us. I do not think that anybody knows the answer. Or can help us in reality. I don't know how we can take this “offer of release” seriously, and productively. In actuality, how many remain alive, even counting those who are barely, with us in this world, so damaged and abused are they, so eternally wounded in the living Hell into which they were thrust for over a year.
Their voyage into this Hell has taken an estimated 250 captives down to fewer than 33. 33!! Fewer is the total sum, the remnant of living women, males over 50, and the grievously wounded and/or ill. The cries of those who have gone from us, the despair of their families, the despair of the nation, remains. Deep soul wrenching grief among the parents, the families, the wives, the children, the friends, the entire nation as we leave behind the 'men' - the boy soldiers, those men under 50. Until when?
Will they ever be freed from their dank tunnels of Hell and Death, reeking of Evil Incarnate? Think not that we can trust these beasts to honestly account for and return all whom they have stolen. Where is Shiri Bibas? Where is Yarden Bibas?Where are those two adorable baby boys of theirs, now, the babies of the nation. What is the truth off all of these captives, those alive, those dead, those missing? The Truth! When will we see all of them returned, alive or dead, entitled to an honorable internment. All the while salt is pouring continuously into our wounds as we free hundreds and hundreds of those worse than the beasts of the field serving life sentences for the terrorist murders they carried out against the people of Israel.
Is there a viable alternative? Will we have another chance to rescue even one more? And so, we will agree to this emotional and existential soul rending blackmail for we have been left alone to swelter and weep. This entire invasion into our communities, the slaughter resultant there and at Nova. A huge number of our best and brightest taken from us- has exacted a huge toll on the nation. It has cost us the lives and the souls of so many. It has broken us. The truth of the matter is that for more than a year we have been living in a bottomless Hell falling ever downward. Ever and ever and ever again. No end in sight; only more grief and dark tunnel beneath and before us. Even as the darkness of Evil and Hate descend upon us and smother our very last breaths of hope.
The question now arises as to why I write this in the midst of a deep dive into my soul. Perhaps because all that has gone on this year has had such an impact upon me that there is no separating it. My two nations. USA and Israel. For many a year now, they have engaged in a disastrous project of schism development. Digging deeper and deeper, wider and wider schisms into their respective national psyche. These schisms, growing ever deeper, ever wider echo within me and I find it is time, perhaps past time, to take stock of my thoughts and decisions. Do I stand on one side of the schism or another? Or do I perhaps engage in the building of a bridge, at least for some time, hopefully soon, when we can all carry on civil discourse, agree and disagree in a sane manner with open ears and receptive mind. Appreciate gems of positive approach presented and defined, a point of cooperation and progress, frustratingly so as we continue the difficult task - to fix this world of ours at the points where we caused damage. To take others across the divide with me, to the best of my ability. A tad presumptuous? Grandiose? Useless? I am one person, on the shady, growing shadier segment of life, but one must start somewhere, nor is there a retirement age for repairing that which needs mending. Even a tad.
Mending must begin with oneself, an honest evaluation, a rendering of truth. Some will be better than others, but a start is a start. How can I do anything? I can still think. I'm capable of writing a cogent letter clearly expressing my thoughts, my agreement or disagreement, suggestions, ideas, complaints. Simple enough, I think. 'd also be brave enough to rethink out loud for I think better that way. Even as that thinking has some stinging edges to it.
And so, here we are. Continued on the morrow - actually, Sunday. Shabbat Shalom, a good weekend for all and for the world as well. Especially for our hostages and their families. To a recognition that we are all the same beneath the skin, dream the same dreams, with the same emotions running through our veins, even as we lose sight of that simple truth too often and err. Would that we can build on that thought. Hope that the roiling atmosphere of these past few years has not inflicted irreparable wounds to us. Can we strive to set aside evil ways into which we might have fallen or strayed and find our way back?
Can I?
Can you?
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