Hope Torn Apart

Coming together,
Tearing apart,
Cheering,
Jeering,
Hiding,
Crying,
Hoping.

Those are among the feelings and actions since October 7, 2023. The current war in Israel and Gaza is occurring all over social media and 24/7. It is impacting people in a multitude of ways. Some people are active in live, on location, protests. Some people are active on social media. Some people are scared of losing their jobs, so they are silent. Others are scared for their lives, so they are silent. Some are buoyed into action and others are a mix of emotions that impact their productivity, their ability to focus on work, and their relationships with family, friends and those yet to become acquaintances.

Since this historical date, what have you felt? How has your world changed? How has it stayed the same?

For me, the turmoil has manifested itself in a variety of ways. Some, you have seen on social media, others you have not. Initially, I was quiet on LinkedIn because of an internal dialogue as to whether that was or was not the appropriate platform to speak up or speak out. I have reposted items on Instagram and made a few emoji comments. On Facebook, I have tip-toed with images of sculptures of peace or images of buildings illuminated blue and white.

Questions I’ve asked myself, questions among friends include these real-world sentences:

Is it safe to out myself as Jewish? Do I publicly wear my mezuzah or Star of David necklace? 

Do we gather at a synagogue, shul or temple? Where is the security? Please call or text when you get home, safely.

My mom lives in an area where many of the residents are of the Jewish faith as seen on the Sabbath. Yet, during a recent visit instead of what I expected to see, I saw nothing. I expected to see lawn signs supporting Israel and flag holders with the flag of Israel. I did not. I wondered and still wonder if the people have been advised by security personnel not to put out flags or lawn signs.

During a ride in my car, I pass a synagogue that houses a child care center. Outside are armed guards. This saddens me and makes my stomach queasy. I imagine being a parent and passing by these armed personnel knowing why they are there and yet still feeling that it’s okay to drop off my child for a few hours.

How is the war impacting our actions and our emotions? Is it as we may have anticipated or not?

Bare honesty, you know someone, through six degrees of separation, impacted by this war. Because my daughter tangentially knows one of the people being held by Hamas, I know that my interest in the media reports is higher than if she or someone else I know had no personal connection. Because a cousin lives in Israel, because teachers I worked with were called up to the reserves, because ….

This war is impacting employees. A relative shared that this must be a tough time to be a teacher or an educator. Do you talk about it? Are you allowed to do that? Are lapel pins of the Blue Square Campaign permitted? What is safe to wear to an interview, walking down the street, in a bar or restaurant, or to a concert?

Teachers of history are receiving different messages from administrators. Some are being told not to talk about the war unless their students bring it up. Others are told it is okay to talk about it as long as the students do not hear your personal opinion about the war. Others are reprimanded for talking about it as a current event. Some hear nothing and receive no guidance nor any support. Fear of losing one’s job, fear of not hearing from the students? It’s rational, it’s happening.

Will you hide me? I saw that social media campaign and looked up what it was about. That had me gulp.

What happened to that mindfulness, to that employee self-care, to that free therapy that was offered during Covid? Are people checking in with each other still, now?

This war, launched on Simchat Torah, on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur Day War, so calculated, is a pain point beyond a day in history I recall.

How is it impacting you, as an employee, as a relative, as a person?

Editor’s Note: REGISTER TODAY to reserve your seat at our next Salon 360° where Hope will join us to to dig deeper. Because the time is now for us all to do our very best to make (real) shift happen, “for good”. To disagree without being disagreeable; To actively listen, probe, understand, learn, compromise and seek solutions. Just seriously good people –working together without judgment to create positive ripples of change –one voice, one person, one ripple at a time.