THREE HAVE DIED

  “...three have died”

 "There were 24. Now there are 21."

  "There are 21 and a lot of dead bodies."

This is the latest statement of Trump re the conditions, or rather the number of those left alive among hostages ripped from the fabric of their lives, closing in quickly on 600 days of terror, horror, starvation, brutality. A number which began at 251 taken over into Gaza. After the slaughter of thousands killed in the name of nothing but barbarity at its worst depth of horror.  This was not war. This was your everyday common murderer with no humanity. Enabled by the deep waters of hate round the world. Any normal person who looks at all that has taken place is filled with horror. In growing confusion rises a question which apparently has no answer. Actually, this question is one of many parts, many questions. 

Can You find them? Answer them or not, as You wish, but know this: Your People need to hear Your voice. We need some reassurance in a terrible time of stress.

Dear Lord, He of whom we sing as a being of great mercy, of compassion, of love for Your children, where were You and where are You?  This awful spectacle and its seeds are unfortunately, alive and well in the worst way possible

Dear Lord, why have You created these creatures? These human beings with the capacity to outdo even those angels thrust out of Heaven. Who are supposed to now roam the earth ravaging it. Creating floods of blood and tears and who are now known as demon angels. Are they these creatures of horror now once again roaming the earth, sowing and reaping blood and tears from Your tormented Children? Dear Lord.

Dear Lord, why have You allowed this spectacle that should never have been, ever, to remain alive for so long? With death and grief, it's only products.

Finally, Dear Lord from one of Your Children, from many of Your Children, we ask You, we plead from You, of You - answer.   How much more can we take? How much longer? Will this go on and on?   How many more millennia will we be under the whip? The target of bullets and knives and words equally as sharp and murderous?

 Enough. Enough. ENOUGH!!!! 

In the words of Your Children hear the pain emanating directly from their souls. Reassure them, us, me, that there is an end. That this horror is finite in nature and duration. If You are angry with us, take as payment all the blood, all the tears, all the cries of agony that we have already sent You.  Surely there is enough and more to convince even You, despite our almost multitude sins that there must be an end to this. End it. Before there is an end. To Your People. Flesh and blood and souls can only absorb so much. So again, Dear Lord, how much more do You think we can take?

Hear the words of Your people. Internalize them. Think on them. Feel with them. Keep these words always in Your heart and find an answer that will help us. Relieve the fear of our frantically beating hearts. As we look upon our children, Your own Children, we think, what is out there for them? And again, we plead with You. We beg of You. We pray to You. Stop it. Just stop it.

"The painful but inevitable answer is we can take as much as we must. “Ein Breira,” there is no choice, is a long-understood statement in Israel. Disappearance, resignation and despair are not an option for us. We will be angry, grieving, pained and scared; we will reach out to one another and to those who wish us well; we will shake our fists at the sky and pray and work hard to make it better. But we are Jews. We don’t give up." (Rabbi David Wolpe)

There is more to it. Look at the courage and bravery, the loyalty of Your Children, who should be rewarded, and punished for whatever deserves it, but set it aside, at least for a respectable amount of time.

“I asked myself, ‘Where do I go from here’? instead of ‘Who did it to me?’” (Joseph Samuels, a Farhad survivor)

There is yet more, for Your People have infinite faith in You, despite all that has come their way even as You knew and watched. Why? Why!!!!

"Being Jewish means being part of a people, a tradition, a resilience that goes back thousands of years. So when the world tries to isolate us, we remember — we’re not alone. And we don’t shrink.

We rise."  (Mary Bauer, Birkenau survivor)

 "...no matter what Hashem sends to us, our response has been positivity and light, rather than hate and darkness." 

“We don’t know the future, but we have to have faith that whatever Hashem brings our way, we’re going to be okay.” With every challenge, large and small, what other choice do we have but to turn to Hashem? (Sarah Pachter, author and speaker)

Look upon their courage, their faith and think, feel, explain, for we demand, need so desperately, an answer of hope, of an end, of a knowing when this will end. (It will, please, Dear Lord?)

The answer is given by our representative, the author of the article from which I quoted these many heartrending, powerful and determined words of survivors of brutality, yet who remain strong in faith.

The conclusion? Not a happy one, nor optimistic in nature; merely one which links yet another piece of a long chain to another. As the link goes on. As the chain gets longer. As we continue onward, with   determination even as we ask another question. Perhaps it is not a question but is the beating of our hearts for with those words, with the rhythm of our faith, we get stronger. Even as our beats are powerful, steady, the word remains - When and When and When. 

Though we are tired, badly bruised we are strong and remain so. Our faith gives us that strength. We will persevere. We will defeat our enemies as we have done over the millennia. And we hope and pray that toxic hatred and savagery cease and desist. NOW. 

We have stumbled and fallen, erred in our ways, but have never forsaken you forever, have always returned to You, for You. Our faith in You remains strong, eternal. We have passed Your tests. We need a rest. 

Hear us, Dear Lord, hear us.

Now.'        

We have had a long run via all our yesterdays.

We have continued into the challenge of our todays.        

Our tomorrows must be better. 

Please.