(Nov 2 / 2:24 a.m.)

Those of us who support Israel are wasting our breath by declaring — however correctly — that there never was a modern historical state called “Palestine” until Britain, France and Italy carved up the Middle East into territories following World War I. Or that during Israel’s war of independence many Arabs left their homes voluntarily (and many involuntarily), expecting to return in short order to a Zionist-free territory. Or that Jordan relinquished control over the West Bank in 1967 as a consequence of Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War. Or that UNWRA has enabled the perpetuation of refugee camps breeding generations of dependency, resentment and victimhood.

The facts and perceptions on the ground are what matter now. There is a Palestinian identity with vocal and antagonistic proponents who identify Israelis as colonizing oppressors engaged in genocide and Jews everywhere as accomplices deserving of execution, of extermination. There is Israel, a nation among nations, that, while far from perfect, is held to a uniquely high moral standard, the perceived violation of which makes it deserving of excoriation, delegitimization and despicable attacks on civilians.

(9:18 p.m.)

Throughout the past 26 days, I have been filled with grief, consumed by it. That grief — over the heinous slaughter of our people, the gleeful desecration of our dead. Over the kidnapping of the living and pain of their loved ones. Over Israel being forced into a fraught decision about waging war with its inevitable fatalities and life-changing injuries.

My grief has transformed to anger.

Anger that so many call for a ceasefire without calling out Hamas for instigating this war and for not taking any steps to protect the Gazans for whom Hamas is ostensibly responsible. Anger at the lack of recognition that previous ceasefires of conflicts started by Hamas indiscriminately firing rockets into Israel have resulted in nothing more than more rockets and, on October 7, the savage slaughter of Israeli civilians. Anger that the unfortunate deaths of civilians are blamed solely on Israel while Hamas gets a pass for “justifiable resistance.” Anger that left-wing extremists and all kinds of Jew-haters are gleefully exploiting the opportunity to dehumanize “the Jews” and are emboldened to call for radical action against all Jews.

Anger that we have to devote so many resources and so much consideration to keeping ourselves and our synagogue visitors safe. Anger that some of the most vociferous anti-Israel voices come from Jews and from groups whose very presence would not be tolerated in most Arab countries, and certainly not by Hamas. Anger that we should be afraid to enter heavily-Muslim neighborhoods of cities in the U.S. and Europe. Anger that our high school and college students feel physically intimidated by opponents of Israel’s right to exist.

Anger that we need to expend so much effort holding our concern in check so we don’t succumb to hopelessness. That we spend so much time watching, listening, and reading so we are informed more than we are inflamed. Anger that the louder, shriller voices will drown out fact, reason and dialogue.

(Nov 3 / 9:53 a.m.)

I feel a tiny bit lighter for having vented here. And a little more connected for having sent to Hannah some t-shirts, underwear and socks; her unit was moved and laundry facilities are not as readily available. I feel a little more emboldened speaking up as it appears that Hamas is doubling down in public about its ultimate goal of ridding the land of Israel of Jews, even if most protestors won’t care. A little more effective for having signed on to an email campaign to encourage congress to support Israel. A little more hopeful that Israel’s strategy will prove successful. A little more confident as it seems that most Jews in the U.S. are united in support of Israel.

(Nov 4 / 11:48 p.m.)

I remain optimistic that Israel will soon renew its government with strategists who are not distracted by concerns over personal issues, with leaders who avoid bombast, with officials not blinded by extreme religious or ultranationalist views.

May we live to see the day when Israel can have at least a semblance of security and peace.

Our biblical patriarch Avraham sat in the entrance of his tent to welcome passers-by. chadesh ysmeinu k’kedem / renew our days as of old: May we live to see the day when we will not have armed guards at our unlocked synagogue doors.

ken yehi ratzon / so may it be…

am yisrael chai! עם ישראל חי

Rabbi Jonathan Kremer