Stop the Alarmism

Since Oct. 7, it’s been exhausting to be a Jew. Not only did our people face the most horrendous massacre since the Holocaust – and others are still being held hostage – but we’ve also had to deal with an uptick in antisemitism, protests throughout the country and disappointments from our elected officials. It comes at a time when it’s tiring to be an American anyway, where politics dominate news headlines, social media platforms and our dinner tables. 

You know what makes all of this worse? Alarmism.

I’ve seen so many alarmist articles and columns and posts and videos from the Jewish community over the past nine months. People warn that another Holocaust is coming, that we all need to make aliyah, that there is absolutely no question that we are doomed.

The social media algorithm rewards alarmism, so people keep playing into it. TV commentators host debates with radicals who scream over one another and talk in hyperbole. Fear results in clicks, so news agencies put out anxiety-inducing headlines – usually in ALL CAPS, just to really drive the scaremongering home.

The social media algorithm rewards alarmism, so people keep playing into it. TV commentators host debates with radicals who scream over one another and talk in hyperbole. Fear results in clicks, so news agencies put out anxiety-inducing headlines – usually in ALL CAPS, just to really drive the scaremongering home.

I’ve had enough. 

Here’s the reality: Israel is fighting for its right to exist, for its survival, for the entire Jewish people. It’s engaging in warfare with Hamas and Hezbollah. Inside of its own country, it fends off lone terrorists. It’s desperately trying to bring home the hostages. It’s divided over the government and facing other social issues that could polarize its people further. 

And at home here in America and throughout the Diaspora, we are contending with a rise in antisemitism. Sometimes it’s a swastika painted on a gravestone; sometimes it turns violent, and Jews end up getting hurt – or killed. 

Social media is a hornet’s nest of hate, where we don’t know if the person behind the keyboard spouting anti-Jewish, anti-Israel rhetoric is real or a bot. 

All these things are worrisome, but we don’t need to add to our anxiety by being alarmist as well. And we certainly can’t leave Hashem out of the equation.

We are Jews. Hashem gave us a unique mission in this world to spread love and light, to tell people about His existence and encourage others to believe. 

But when we are alarmist, we forget about Him. We don’t factor in His plan. We neglect the thousands of years of history that demonstrate His love for us. After all, we’re still here, while our past enemies have been destroyed.

We’re facing so many issues, and we don’t need to rile each other up and raise our collective blood pressure. Instead, we need to take a step back from our cell phones and figure out a way to move forward, to take action, but also to find comfort.

Here’s what I suggest.

Take a break from your cell phone on Shabbat. A 25-hour rest without technology will recharge your soul and prepare you for the week ahead. 

Don’t believe everything on the internet; I’ve seen so many people share fake news. Even as a journalist who should know better, I’ve fallen into this trap, too. The thing is that this can cause a lot of damage. And of course, there are rarely corrections on social media. People post the wrong thing, and it gets tons of clicks, and when they find out the truth, they often don’t say they were incorrect. That’s one of the reasons the false hospital bombing story in Gaza spread so quickly, and so many still believe it. We need to make sure we aren’t spreading incorrect information on our side as well. 

If you notice that you’re following people who share sensationalist news or make scaremongering statements, mute or unfollow them, because you don’t need that in your life.

If the news you read or TV you watch only reports negative stories and makes you feel upset, check it less often. Have you noticed how everything is BREAKING NEWS? It’s to make us feel scared and click or tune in. Don’t fall for that tactic.

I’m not saying to completely tune out – just rein it in a bit, and don’t add to it yourself. Be cautious about what you say and post, and make sure you think about the person on the receiving end. How will this post make them feel? 

Of course, it’s critical to fulfill your mission as a Jew. If you feel anxious, learn this week’s Torah portion. Torah is water for the Jewish soul; you may be feeling dehydrated. You should pray to Hashem every day. Go to a Jewish gathering or shul. Restore your soul.

It’s time to step back and look at the bigger picture. If we are alarmist all the time, we are only hurting ourselves. We won’t get anything done because our emotions will take over, and we’ll feel immobilized. 

Take care of yourself. It’s how you can stop feeling exhausted and instead, feel energized to make the world a better place. 

Stay positive, my friends. Our redemption is coming soon.

Kylie Ora Lobell is an award-winning writer and community editor of the Jewish Journal. Follow her on X @kylieoralobell or Instagram @kylieorawriter.