. . . that I originally was not going to share, but I am really overjoyed to see that this post is getting so many recommendations.
I'm definitely an Oct 7 Jew (it's really a thing!), as before then, I had only some slight interest in Judaica. I didn't follow any of the celebrations--I wasn't even religious enough to go to High Holiday services--and in my desire to travel places, Israel was not high on my list as I already was there years ago for the wedding of an Arab friend. But something was triggered in my soul on Oct. 7 that does not seem to be diminishing and is even growing. I still have no real desire to go to synagogues, but I do have a desire to visit Israel again for the purposes of the deeper study of Kaballah. For the last several months, I have been attending an online class on Kaballah that is taught by a rabbi who lives in Israel, and I am simply astounded by the wisdom that is there.
So, why do we continue when, for thousands of years, so many in the world seem hell-bent on destroying us? First, I believe it has to do with the incredible depths of the wisdom that has been studied and practiced by our people. I am discovering that this is fractal in nature. The more that is studied, the more that is revealed, and it seems to have no end to its depth. I say this as a person who has engaged in the study of Vedic traditions, Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism, and several Native American cultures. All of these studies have deeply touched my heart and my life, and I do not see them as a side-trip but as experiences that have deeply enriched my spirit.
To segue back to why we have outlasted all our enemies, even time . . .
Most people do not get how severely we have been persecuted and genocided. Since the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, there have been 2000 years of mass slaughters, forced conversions, expulsions, and loss of culture and religious identity. Had these genocidal events not occurred, which led to the loss of potential future generations as well, it is within reason that today, rather than there being 15 million Jews in the world, there would be well over 100 million of us, perhaps even more than 200 million. This is a speculative figure, of course.
And, obviously, those who wanted our elimination from this planet still want that. This includes the growing neo-Nazi movement as well as radical Islam.
Few non-Jews understand the importance of Israel to our people. Up until Oct 7, I do not think that many Jews in the diaspora recognized this either. This is a whole other topic, but suffice for now to say it is the only place on the planet where Jews can defend themselves from those who want to kill us.
As was mentioned above, it is time for some chicken soup, along with the recognition that we are still here and still, as has always been the case, only want to sing, pray, dance weirdly, eat great food, and continue to contribute amazing art, culture, technology, music, cinema, science, medical advances, etc. etc. to the world. And, of course, comedy. We are good at that.
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