Today, 2 years ago, Israeli civilians were attacked, kidnapped, and murdered. Children were traumatized, families torn apart.
Two years later, Gazan civilians are attacked, starved, and murdered. Children are traumatized, families torn apart.
Only now, the scale is unfathomable. Entire bloodlines wiped off the map. Babies withering away. Genocide.
I reflected on all of this a few days ago, as I sat in temple on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. As we chanted the Ashamnu, a beautiful confessional prayer, recited communally, to acknowledge our transgressions over the past year, my mind wandered to the people perpetrating this genocide under the guise of our shared religion. Were they also tapping their chests, taking spiritual responsibility for their sins?
Asham’nu – We have acted wrongly.
Were they reflecting on their immoral actions?
V’hirshanu – We have wrought injustice.
Were they meditating on their abuses?
Tzarar’nu – We have oppressed.
Were they seeking atonement?
Rashanu – We have done evil.
Or would this prayer, this religion that our ancestors fought and died to practice, be merely a series of empty, meaningless words?
I can’t possibly know. I can only move into this new year reflecting on my own contribution to helping put an end to this evil. I can commit to playing my part in working toward peace and justice for all humanity.