It was a beautiful day in New Jersey when the war in Ukraine broke out. I remember it vividly because I stood side by side with other parents at a playground watching Mila’s hair dance in the sun as she went up and down slides and ran around excitedly, unaware of the perils around the globe. I wondered if the other parents had the same intrusive thoughts that I did that day. How do we all put one foot in front of the other and carry on as though atrocious acts aren’t taking place at this very moment?It’s hard to separate the reality of our own peaceful existence from the harsh realities that exist in other corners of the globe. Again, my heart shatters for the people of Israel and I remember the words I used to read in our prayer books at Passover each year. “Next year in Jerusalem.” I was always so excited by that phrase—the promise of a new land and a world of new discoveries. My entire life I have been separated from my Jewish faith. My father converted and became Lutheran after he married my mom and my brother and I spent our childhood attending church on Sundays, leaning into our Jewish roots once a year when we gathered for a Passover Seder with my father’s siblings and their families.The traditions and rituals of that day in April each year always stuck and Passover was a holiday I looked forward to immensely. Now that I’m raising my own daughter, I wonder so much about the legacy we leave behind and I feel immense sadness that the religion dies with our generation (in my family, anyway). And I feel an enormous amount of grief for the things that are happening in Gaza, a place I always longed to visit but likely never will in this lifetime.I want to be clear here—I am absolutely without question gutted for the Palestinians caught in the crossfire of war and the children who have absolutely nothing to do with any of it. I wish they could all feel the freedoms we take for granted, and I want nothing more than for those children to enjoy the sun on their skin, the wind in their hair, and a carefree day at the playground.I don’t know how to end today’s blog post. I’m not even sure I’m the right person to weigh in on this; I just feel terribly hopeless and I wish for peace I know will never happen and a world that recognizes the struggles of the Jewish people. Mostly though, I wish for an end to antisemitism.Let us not repeat the grave mistakes of our ancestors.
Photo by Pontus Wellgraf on Unsplash
The world is definitely a scary place, and you shouldn’t have to worry MORE because of your religion – whatever that may be. I’d been doing a lot of reading and listening and researching, and in this case, I am very much Free Palestine, but that Free Palestine doesn’t mean you’re anti-Semitic though that likes to be tossed around a lot. I’m doing my best to learn about history and what lead to these moments, and what’s actually happening in Gaza now, which is horrifying and devastating.
<3 you,
Lauren
“It’s hard to separate the reality of our own peaceful existence from the harsh realities that exist in other corners of the globe.”
This resonates with me. You don’t have to take sides in the conflicts, just know that HUMAN BEINGS are involved that are hurting and have nothing to do with the reasons for these conflicts. Sigh. It’s so heartbreaking.
You’d think that in the 21st century civilization has evolved enough to stop with the senseless violence.
i have struggled very acutely because of what’s happening. i cry and pray every night for the safety of the hostages and innocent palestinians.