Today, the Jerusalem Post is almost completely devoted to the horrendous anniversary upon us, that of October 7, 2023, known as Oct7. Leading up to this bloody day's anniversary the media, print and online, have devoted more and more time to this upcoming day; to this living nightmare, which took place in the light of day on a bright Shabbat (Sabbath) morning, doubling as a holiday morning celebrating the gift of receiving the Torah (Old Testament), a gift which renews itself and us every year, every week, every day, every hour, every second, for all eternity.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration. It was supposed to be a day of family and friends, reunions, hugs and kisses. It was supposed to be a day of prayers and song and dance even as another dance festival, Nova, took place very close by. It was a day meant for happiness, resembling another beautiful day which turned into another day of horror - 9/11. Instead of that, we received an ugliness beyond understanding, a day where family reunions ended in death and captivity, in a maelstrom of blood and brutality, of rape and murder, of inhumanity such as we have not seen or experienced since the awful years of the Shoah, (the Holocaust).
Jews once again burned alive, babies discarded and treated as trash, women as objects of perverted thinking and behavior. Men and women were chased after as the fox by a pack of howling hounds, intent on spilling blood, the more the better. Be it car, van, truck, bus, police car or ambulance, even sedans to be torn apart, rammed with heavy duty machinery and bumper guards of heavy metal, dumpsters or a grove of skimpy trees, a shelter packed high with bodies upon bodies, running frantically, terrified, brought down with cascades of bullets, shredded by grenades, set afire in whatever place they were, dragged from cars. It mattered not. Blood and screams of agony, of disbelief, partners dragged apart, calling to each other, pleading to be let go, to not be killed. Thrust against hot pipes of motorcycles, dragged by hair and feet, roped, chained, displayed as prizes of war, as if captives of old.
Even as these terrified beings ran, they carried along with them the wounded, even if they were strangers. But they were not anymore, were they, for they were all Jews, being chased and slaughtered for that alone. And for those non -Jews who bravely risked their lives to rescue the dancers, some even killed for that bravery, may they be among the blessed of Zion in their eternal rest and peace.
Sons and daughters called home, crying for mothers and fathers, people pulled dead bodies of friends and strangers over their own so as to be thought dead. Voice after voice, calling out with tear-stained faces, desperate voices announcing their love for always, their apologies for dying. A voice of a daughter, calling out to her mother on the other side of that phone conversation. "Ima, Ani lo rotzeh lehiyote po!" Mommy, I don't want to be here!" The tear clogged voice of the mother, trying to reassure her that help will be there soon, our soldiers know their duty and will rescue you.
But the young lady knew better, did she not? Brutalized, beaten, dead, and shown on display by Hamas and those "innocent civilians" who cheered and shot their rifles and reached to touch her as if counting coup as Native Americans did during their battles. No innocent civilians here. Not a one! The innocents were those who cried out the Shema as their last agonized breath left their bodies, as their souls floated up to the arms of welcoming angels who escorted them to Hashem, who greeted them as martyrs, as those who died al kiddush Hashem.
Now we are told there is a ceasefire imminent. With all hostages, live or dead to return home. When? How many? What conditions? What about the body of Goldin, kept as hostage since 2014? Will Hamas return all of their "bargaining" chips for future needs, as they call their captives, keep them for a "rainy day" and then ' surprise' us with a "forgotten" one or one they "found" recently? Will they actually release any on time, or wait and hesitate and linger in the return and give us back only a few, then breaking the deals made as they have done time and time again?
How do we not blow up a balloon only to have it burst again, and harsher, in our faces? How do we make sure they will not stop, no longer keep faith with the rules of the ceasefire, claim Israel broke faith, as the world will happily and eagerly believe, and will begin the battles and attacks again, replete with missiles and rockets, again with aid from their allies, and then we get a warning from the USA that we had better not shoot at their allies, leaving us bare armed and buck naked against those who wish us dead and buried, the sooner, the better!
Is there a bubble or balloon we can trust, not to indeed harmfully in great manner blow up in our faces? Are we not also the "ally" of America? Will our enemies be allowed to shoot at us because they are more powerful and wealthy as a group? Or they have more natural resources in short supply than we have? Or will the world simply stand by, silent, or even cheer, if, we go down the drain, this time forever, there being no place of sanctuary, no place defending us as their citizens, no country opening her doors to us, no voices to join together with us and protest against it, and be at least somewhat successful in their attempts to combat this ever returning abomination and seemingly of eternal duration, even as our nation who does defend Jews of all origins, color, ethnicities, around the world, Israel, is itself under severe siege and attack.
What will be? With the world? With the Jewish nation? With humanity as a whole?
Will we ever be able to see each other as humans, the same under the skin, having the same dreams for ourselves and our kids?
When will we be able to look back at the yesterdays behind us, the todays so much improved, and the tomorrows blessed in opportunity, peace, and progress?
When?
WHEN?!
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