Israel will never be the same again

You’d think that a year would be enough time to process even the most heinous crimes imaginable, allowing for the shock and disbelief to be compartmentalized somewhere in our collective psyche, but is that even possible? After all, 80 years later, we are still trying to analyze and dissect the alarming events which led to the Holocaust, in order to make some sense of how such a level of depravity, towards one’s fellow man, could have happened.

So, the descriptive headlines of the morning newspaper, the day after we marked the one-year massacre, which read, “Raw trauma and boundless grief at October 7 memorials,” came as no surprise nor was it hyperbolic in any way.  

Renowned singers and media personalities came together, in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park, to weep and grieve together over the insanity which took hold of those who allowed a demonic hatred to steal all humanity from them as they committed atrocities which cannot be grasped by any sane individual.

As the cameras panned the limited audience of 1,000, due to the fear of possible rocket attack, the anguish could be seen on each face, still grappling with the magnitude of a barbaric onslaught, the likes of which was unprecedented in the history of modern Israel. 

The memories of life before October 7th are long gone. The days where conflict seemed to be contained to internal political fights or when conversations swirled around the opening of Tel Aviv’s latest trendy restaurant, represent a time which can never be resurrected or replicated, even if we tried, because Israelis are no longer the same.

We are a broken, hurting people who have been forced to confront the ugly truth, which had been neatly hidden for so many years, almost forgetting the guarantee of its re-emergence would, one day, come back to haunt us, because it always does. Jew hatred is a historical constant, just like the predictable periods of war and peace. You can prolong the tranquility, but the inevitable conflict will ensure the return of tragic bloody wars which mar the hope of a better and gentler society. No such luck when it comes to the contempt for God’s chosen.

Yet, the Jewish people, both in Israel and abroad had a long run, one which lasted more than 75 years. Sure, there were wars, skirmishes and even the periodic rocket attack, but once ended, it was tucked away behind us, as yet another unfortunate episode, but one from which we were usually able to bounce back.

Not this time!  Something broke, and the many fragile pieces can no longer be put back together to reconstruct the innocence of a nation which sought to shed its victimhood history and emerge as a force with which to be reckoned – always moving upward, to achieve the heights that are possible for those who treasure life and all it offers. 

Instead, we are left with images of supporters of terror who march on city streets, throughout the globe, carrying flags that represent hatred, animosity and murderous regimes who would stop at nothing to exterminate the millions they see as the vermin of society.  

Incorporating the fashion of strife and contention, covering their faces and heads with the checkered kaffiyehs which serve to identify contempt for Jews, they embrace the poisonous and deadly ideology of foreigners while rejecting the freedom, dignity and liberty of their native countries which afforded them the right to import these toxins to their fellow citizens.

Unfortunately, by welcoming this vile venom, they have helped open a Pandora’s Box of lethal pollution which can only spread and usher destruction in its wake, because the intimidation which accompanies such aversion is meant to silence moderate voices, causing them to fear the consequences of going against a growing tidal wave of antisemitism as Jews are painted to be the true enemies of mankind.  Few are willing to stand up against that kind of exaggerated portrayal?

So, in addition to the festering wound of October 7th, the Jewish people, no matter where they live, must now confront the new reality of public perception, towards them, which has dramatically changed in a very short time. It means that new calculations must be made that were once never required. Where you go, how you dress or identify is no longer a choice with no thought required.

Because suddenly, everyone is paying attention. The freedoms once taken for granted, relating to holiday celebrations, cultural observances, displayed decorations and other obvious inferences and connections to Jewishness, are no longer a protected right, unlike other faiths which have not had to confront any such disturbances. But no one is really safe, because the common denominator found in almost every religion and society is that if it does not recognize radical Islam as the final authority, it, too, will be next on the chopping block.

For now, though, Israel has the distinction of being in the direct sights of their weapons, suffering the focus of a bottomless well of animus, hostility and loathing which spontaneously combusted into the flames of hell, pouring out all the revulsion which had been forbidden until now.  But here we are, a year later, with no sign of containment or extinguishing. If anything, more leaders and nations are joining forces with our enemies, seeking to punish us for the crime of defending ourselves.

One example is French president, Emmanuel Macron, who has called for an arms embargo on Israel, under the guise of “returning to a political solution,” forcing us to stop fighting. Lucky for him that Iran isn’t launching hundreds of deadly rockets into France, jeopardizing the lives of his citizens and seeking to wreak carnage upon his country.  One can only wonder how he would react to being told that he must find a diplomatic solution and abandon the path of strength through weaponry! 

But this is nothing new. Each time Israel has tried to eliminate their enemies, who also happen to be the foes of all mankind, they are met with deterrence and prevention by those doing the bidding for evil actors who are happy to use them as a means to their depraved end goals.   

Consequently, we have no choice but to go it alone, knowing that supporters will be far and few between, among the world’s nations. Although the events of October 7th have changed Israel forever, they will never succeed in her demise, because an eternal people must go on, and so we will, with God’s help!