It is now a date connected to a specific tragedy. Like January 6th will always be connected to the Insurrection, October 7th will always, for many of us, be connected to the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. Last night, I had the privilege to be present at the Goggleworks to hear Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud tell their story of love, tragedy, and survival. They were at the Nova Music Festival when Hamas attacked; Eliya was kidnapped and held for 505 days while Ziv was able to escape. He was getting ready to propose to her – they were married soon after he was released – and both continue to tell their story while suffering from PTSD. It was a moving and troubling presentation, and it pointed out just how evil Hamas is. Hamas has one goal – to eradicate Jews from the earth.
Some years ago, I heard a history professor talk about the history of that region, and he summed the conflict up in one simple phrase. “If the Palestinians stop trying to kill the Jews, the war will end. If Israel stops defending itself, Israel will end.” One of the guests asked about the idea that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians, and Eliya said that Israel could wipe out Gaza in a month, but they haven’t. I see the same devastation everyone else does, and I weep at the amount of death and destruction being waged in Gaza, but war is not the same as genocide. Eliya described being kept in the tunnels under Gaza; tunnels under schools and hospitals built with cement given to the Palestinians by Israel – teachers educated in Israel – doctors trained in Israel – all of that turned into weapons of subterfuge and devastation. In Israel, soldiers stand in front of the innocent; Hamas uses them as shields.
Yesterday, an election was held in Israel, and it was reported that the Arab vote, which is 18% of the eligible voters in Israel, is having a big impact on the outcome. I have never heard of a nation that was allegedly committing genocide allowing their so-called victims the right to vote. I do not condone the violence, nor do I take it lightly, but I am sure of a couple of things; Hamas is a terrorist organization that hasn’t allowed an election since they were elected. Women are treated as second-class citizens. LGBTQ people are in constant danger of being murdered by Hamas. The Palestinians are being abused by their own leaders. I hope for peace, and I hope for a place for Palestinians to live. I also know that if we are not all vigilant, there will be another October 7th. There will be another Holocaust. Evil never sleeps.
Prayer – Holy God, all of these issues are so difficult, and all most of us want is peace. We pray for that today. Amen.
Today’s art is from a couple of articles connected with October 7, but I can’t find who the artist is.