October 7th One Year Later

Here we are
One year later
We remember

 

We remember where we were
We remember what we were doing
We remember who we were with
We remember the shock and horror and loss

We remember how that reverberated
on what should have been
a day of celebration and joy in our Torah

 

We remember those who sat alone
in shelters and in safe rooms
waiting for deliverance

We remember those whose dances were halted
We remember those who dashed to hide in pits and behind shrubs
We remember those who ran to help
We remember those who comforted

We remember those who gave their last breaths
in hopes that others might survive

 

We remember those we lost

We remember the women, the men, the children, the babies
mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers,
sisters, brothers, cousins
Who were taken
Who were murdered
Who were raped
Who were burned

 

We remember those who have been returned to us
Alive
And in body bags

We remember those whose return we are still waiting for
those who remain held hostage
a year later
underground in tunnels, without air or sunlight
with little food or medical care
those whom the world conveniently quickly forgot

 

We remember the young men and women
who have taken up arms to protect and defend
to search for, to rescue, and to recover
who are weary and who see no end in sight

We remember the young and old
who continue to stand in the streets
with signs, and chants, and songs
demanding that wise, compassionate, and courageous leaders
will replace what passes for governance

 

We remember those who celebrated the horrors and atrocities

We remember those who danced and shouted with glee
in the streets of our cities
places where on October 6th we believed we belonged

We remember those who mock us
because we are Jews

We remember those who torment our children in our schools
because we are Jews

We remember those who harass us on the streets, in our workplaces
because we are Jews

We remember those who fire bullets, who throw Molotov cocktails,
who smash our windows, who set our synagogues on fire,
who spray paint slurs and words of hate, who boycott our businesses
because we are Jews

We remember those who refuse to stand up against hatred
because we are Jews

We remember those who turn a blind eye
because we are Jews

 

We remember the suffering of the innocent

Jews and Palestinians
those who sustained injury, both physical and spiritual
those whose families were ripped apart
those whose lives were cut short
those who have been traumatized
those who have been forever changed
because of a war that we did not want
and did not start

 

We remember those who called
We remember those who sent messages of concern
We remember those who stand with us

We remember those who protect us
outside our synagogues and community centers
day after day, week after week, month after month

 

We remember the grief of our people
centuries born and centuries old
who lived with courage and faith

We remember their stories
We remember their dreams
We remember their strength
We remember their hope
We remember their love

 

We remember the teachings of our sacred texts:
“Do not harden your hearts”
Remember that “every person is created in the image of the Holy One”
“Spread over us your shelter of peace”
Fulfill the vision of your prophets:
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not take up sword against nation;
they shall never again know war.”

 

We remember all those who despite it all
are still inspired to work for peace
who live with courage
who still love the world

 

We remember what seems to elude our grasp
– the world that we lived in on October 6th, 2023

We remember who we are

 

We remember
Am Yisrael Chai
We are still here

 

Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack

Filed under: Rabbi's Message

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