You Want to Fight the Enemy, First Get Our Own House in Order

The last two weeks have been horrendously difficult for the Jewish community. Since October 7, what some would call a new Holocaust as the carnage unfolded before our eyes. The images, almost too grotesque to comprehend, have traumatized us to our core. 

In the moment of unbearable pain, no one has understood our collective sadness and vulnerability better than our own Jewish brothers and sisters.

The pain has brought us closer in new ways. The term, “Ahavat Yisrael” (translation: Love one’s fellow Jews) is resurfacing and resonating more deeply than ever. The challenges that once divided us, seem to have faded or been sidebarred. 

You see this on multiple levels: Bibi and Gantz forming a coalition government; Haredi Jews enlisting to serve in the IDF; liberals questioning the merits of a Palestinian state; conservatives applauding Biden’s trip to Israel. Friends and families who had parted ways because of partisanship suddenly are calling and checking in on one another, recognizing that their Jewish lives matter more than politics. And so, amid the incredible grief and infinite sadness there’s also glimmers of hope and unity. 

But I fear that this moment of unity might not last. It is still fragile and vulnerable to divisive forces. I believe we need to be intentional about protecting and maintaining it.

While our brothers and sisters are bearing guns to protect our homeland, we need to mobilize and protect our people. We can’t wait for anyone to save us – the lesson of the past two weeks is that we need to save ourselves. 

While our brothers and sisters are bearing guns to protect our homeland, we need to mobilize and protect our people. We can’t wait for anyone to save us – the lesson of the past two weeks is that we need to save ourselves. Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Seek both knowledge and information. It’s wonderful that many people who have never been involved in difficult conversations about Israel and the safety of Jews around the world are joining in the action. As we get active, let’s also get educated. The abundance of news, analysis, opinion and visual information on social media can dominate our time, giving us information but not enough knowledge. Let’s become better advocates for ourselves by being both informed and knowledgeable.

2. We need to remedy our weakness on social media. All of us see the haters and trolls who seem to dominate but we need to all set up accounts and actively engage the right content on social media. Many new users suffer from low followers and visibility. Let’s all follow each other, big and small, left and right. We can each reach a one million person following if one million of us join in unity. We can create a new robust voice on social media that can set trends, go viral, and change the public discourse. 

3. All Jewish organizations must engage. For decades since the Holocaust, the Jewish community leadership has invested in an infrastructure of Jewish communal organizations with a variety of missions. Today they need to all work on one mission: To protect Jewish life. All leaders and funders need to put egos aside and work on an all-inclusive strategy that engages every single organization and every single person who wants to be part of the solution.

4. Be the leader you want to see. If you don’t like the leadership you see, don’t just complain and shame — leap in and try to do a better job. The days of activism by criticism are over. In this “all hands on deck” moment, be part of the solution, not the problem. 

5. You feel weak in the heart, go to the synagogue. The endless stream of news and stories from Israel can be mentally engrossing and emotionally exhausting. It can draw you into a state of constant awareness paradoxically combined with paralysis and inaction. Prayer or meditation can help to calm the mind and reset your thinking. It can give you space to strategize, to reflect on your life and also to find your role in this crisis. There’s also strength in unity and solace when we are among each other. A robust synagogue life can reenergize the community and provide support for individuals. Torah offers the kind of haven that so many of us desperately need. 

6. Tikkun olam begins with you. Some Jews still may annoy you, but reach out and settle your problems. Life is too short and our challenges too immense. If you have a lingering problem with a Jewish friend or family member, one that you haven’t bothered solving before the annual window before Yom Kippur, muster up the courage and reach out now. You may agree to disagree with that person but letting go of your animosity will make you a better person, a step towards tikkun olam.

If you think this crisis can be resolved with  one party alone, you’re mistaken. We need allies wherever we can find them.

7. Reevaluate the merits of partisan politics. If you think this crisis can be resolved with one party alone, you’re mistaken. We need allies wherever we can find them. Consider a political reset and evaluate what matters at this moment. Don’t let the extremists on both sides distract you. In this time, all of us should spend less time quibbling about trifling politics and much more time focusing on solution-oriented policies. You can always go back to red shirts and blue shirts later.

8. Rethink your spending habits and donate wisely. Perhaps you saw images of young Israelis in fatigues going under the chuppah before reporting for duty. Simple weddings, guests in jeans and shorts. Embrace simplicity and invest in what you value that also lasts. Israel needs our support now and who knows, Jews around the world might face other crises in the weeks and months away. Hold off on the temptation of lavish weddings and luxury goods— at least for a while. Similarly, consider pulling your funds from organizations and institutions that are ignoring or equivocating the loss of Jewish life. 

9. Show gratitude: Although we feel lonely in this situation, there are many leaders and allies from within and outside of our community who are risking a lot to do the right thing. They’re making statements, sending money, and taking political gambles, endangering their lives while they do that. Let’s recognize their contributions and express our gratitude to them with a social media message, an email or a phone call. And treat your local police department to the delivery of nice home cooked meals!

10. Don’t lose hope. Remember that our ancestors have survived persecution for millennia and outlived their enemies. The days of social distancing and isolation are over, reach out and hold a friend’s hand and help the world.

Marjan Keypour Greenblatt is an Iranian-born human rights activist and the founder of StopFemicideIran.org.