Tonight, Thursday, Dec. 7, is the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. In many Jewish homes around the world families and friends will gather to light the menorah for eight nights, adding one candle every night. But this year, the holiday commences at a very difficult time for the Jewish people. There are still over a hundred innocent civilians held hostages in the dark tunnels of Hamas. The celebration of Hanukkah is dimmed by the war against Hamas and Jihad and the rise in antisemitism around the world.
I feel a deep heartbreak right now. My grief is multi-faceted. There is grief for the Israelis who were brutally murdered, injured, and taken hostages as bargaining chips. There is sadness for the Palestinians who remain poor, because of the aid money Hamas diverts (over $300 million each year) to build tunnels and buy weapons. There was a cease fire on November 6. Hamas wrought so much death and destruction on both Israel and the Palestinians. Hamas could, and still can, stop the bloodshed by surrendering and releasing all remaining hostages, but Hamas leaders choose death, destruction, and darkness true to Jihad’s decree “death for the sake of Allah.” And then there is the pain caused by a rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility. It’s mind-boggling that Israel is alone in the war against terror and Jihadist ideology.
The story of Hannukah is a story of survival. The Greek king Antiochus IV made it illegal for Jews to practice their religion and required them to worship the Greek gods. Under the leadership of the Maccabees, the Jewish people defeated Antiochus and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem.
And now, Israel is fighting, again, for its existence. It is a war for civilized western values: democracy, freedom, and women and human rights.
Can you imagine a world without Israel?
Do you really believe the world will be better or safer without Israel?
Israel is home to many innovations, including agriculture, renewable energy, medical, and technology. See World Popular Review citing Bloomberg 2021 ranking of 10 Most Innovative Countries in the World. Israel is number 7 on the list. Two technologies I use daily are Wix and Waze. But the list is long and growing longer and longer.
Palestinian Arabs, and some Western liberals, may delude themselves into thinking that Israel is the problem, but those of us not lulled into complacency must recognize the root cause and the threat of radical Islam to the West. See Hoover Institution: Why Has Democratization Bypassed the Muslim World. Muslim-majority countries are not likely to democratize because of “decades of fundamentalist propaganda by regimes such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar, fueled by billions of oil dollars.” There is hope for the future only if we take a hard, blunt look at the Middle East and acknowledge the fact that radial Islam poses a threat to Western democracies. We must remember:
the hundreds of thousands killed in Syria
the bloodbath across Libya
the devastation in Yemen
the destruction in Iraq
the Boko Haram massacre of Christians in Nigeria
Without Israel, we would still see all that’s happening today in the Middle East - fundamentalism, corruption, oppression, and perpetual war. Let’s be honest, peace never existed in the Middle East, with or without Israel. Sadly, Israel is the scapegoat for all the failings of the Arab nations. The only obstacle to peace is Jihadist propaganda and its end-goal to destroy Israel.
Although Hamas committed unimaginable atrocities and is using the entire population in Gaza as human shields, the world is not calling on Hamas to cease and desist. Despite the fact that Hamas used billions of dollars to wage jihad on Israel instead of supplying Gaza with food, water, fuel, protection, and education, the world is holding Israel responsible for the deprivation of the Palestinian people. Many choose to discredit Israel, yet refuse to take jihadists at their word declaring their ambition to destroy Israel and take over the world.
But while others preach hate, as Jews, we have the moral duty to preach peace. We must uphold the message of Hanukkah: first survive and then move forward with determination to “Seek peace, and pursue it.” (Ps 34:14) In times of darkness, in our grief and sadness, we must celebrate the holiday with joy, sustain hope, and work to build a better world. No matter how dark the world may seem, there is always hope and there are always ways to bring light into the world.
Lately, I have been grappling with the question: what does it mean to “be the light,” especially on days when all I can see is darkness? First, I reminded myself of the standard pre-flight announcement “secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others.” To me, this means practicing loving-kindness technique. Taking a couple of minutes, as needed, throughout the day to cultivate self-compassion and well-being. I recite the following phrases:
May I be free from inner and outer harm and danger. May I be safe and protected.
May I be free of emotional suffering or distress.
May I be able to live in this world happily, peacefully, joyfully, and with ease.
After I open my mind to receive loving kindness, I make a list of 3 things I can do to create moments of joy in my day. Then I also commit to accomplish one thing I can feel proud of by the end of the day.
This practice helps me get grounded and find a sense of emotional stability and composure. Then, I can offer loving-kindness to others around me. Staring with reciting the following phrase:
May all living beings be safe, happy, healthy, and live joyously and in peace.
Then I commit to doing one thing to help a fellow human being.
The greatest struggle I have in my practice is offering loving-kindness to people who wish me harm. I am a beginner practitioner, unlike the Dalai Lama who could offer love and kindness even for his enemies. I believe in humanistic values such as love, compassion, friendliness, and respect. But I feel these cannot be developed under threat. And there is an existential threat for Israelis and Jews all over the world. Hamas repeatedly declares its intention to kill Jews and destroy Israel. In pro-Palestinians rallies protestors chant “from the river to the sea.” US Ivy League heads testifying on Capitol Hill refused to clearly state that “calling for the genocide of Jews” is against their respective codes of conduct.
Thus, to be the light, takes on a new meaning for me - be the light that helps others see. To bring light to the world, we must get rid of the darkness, the spiritual forces of evil. I feel morally obligated to use my voice to speak the truth, to put the blame where it belongs – Hamas. Israel’s war against Hamas is NOT collective punishment NOR retaliation. Israel is fighting for its existence. The fight against terrorism is ugly and costly but necessary. We must free Palestine, Israel, and the world of the savagery of militant Jihadist terrorist ideologies. We must stand for loving kindness and against hatred and antisemitism.
Let there be light!
Comments