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This past Friday evening and Shabbat morning I reflected upon the deaths of Ariel and K’fir Bibas, not knowing that the body of their mother, Shiri, was returned to Israel on Shabbat. Despite the horrific way their remains were paraded in Gaza amid celebrations, I suggested that this was not the time for cries for vengeance. This was the time for mourning, for embracing Yarden Bibas, bereaved father and now husband, and for all of world Jewry to pause. Has that pause ended? What should be next? We do know that in response to the behaviors witnessed in Gaza, Israel withheld the release of the next group of prisoners. I do not know what will come of this.

We remain traumatized as a people, yet I think that our experiences in Pittsburgh might direct us towards a path forward. Each of us will respond in our own way, and each way is legitimate. Having not witnessed such atrocities for decades, many of us cannot call upon prior experiences to guide us. I do urge anyone reading this who is suffering to seek out the appropriate mental health professional, for sometimes all the tools in our toolbox are insufficient. 

The world has witnessed the harsh realities of Hamas, and it is indeed up to the world to determine how it wants to respond. If history has taught us anything, it is that we continue to repeat and repeat egregious errors due to our failure to learn from them. I’m reminded of a powerful statement from Elie Wiesel, z”l: “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Innumerable talking heads have offered opinions, as will philosophers, faith leaders, op-ed contributors and political leaders. Have we witnessed evil, and if yes, what should the response be? 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., of blessed memory, used the most powerful weapon at his disposal – words – to lead to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2. It did not erase the wound of discrimination that is still present in the United States, but it demonstrated that there is incredible power in “we, the people” to effect change in the United States. There are insufficient voices of moderation present in the Middle East right now, and those are the necessary leaders to bring about change. For now, Israel continues to face an organization whose charter calls for its annihilation, as well as countless voices who continue to focus solely on Israel and foist blame upon her for everything that has happened. 

Peace seems so far away right now. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished for eternity to roll a boulder up a hill, and as he reached the top, it would roll back down to the bottom. I still remain a hopeful person that peace is achievable. The daily Amidah, which we recite three times per day, concludes each time with a prayer for peace. When the question arose as to what should be the concluding prayer of the Amidah, we learn the following in Deuteronomy Rabbah 5:15 (a collection of Rabbinic Midrashim on the book of Deuteronomy compiled between the 5^th-8^th Centuries): Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta said: See how desirable is peace! When the Holy One sought to bless Israel, He found no term which included all the blessings He wished to bestow upon them – except for peace. How do we know this? It is written (Psalm 29:11): “May God grant His people strength; May God bless His people with peace.” May it be so in our lifetime.