‘Living Openly as a Jew Isn’t Easy’

I have been saddened by repeated news, seems like daily, of our soldiers dying. I’ve missed being at home where the natural and national instinct would be to go to the funerals of these brave men, and/or comfort some of the mourning families. I know that throughout Israel there is deep grief, but a deep sense of national purpose and awareness of the fact that it’s never been clearer we are fighting an enemy for whom life is simply a tool to inflict pain and suffering–on us and on their own people. Our cause is just, yet we grieve.

What I have also realized is that I am missing day-to-day conversations that are sadly quite the norm in Israel today. Friends and neighbors whose kids are “in” are torn with the mixed emotions of pride at their sons (and daughters, albeit not in front-line combat positions) who are serving and defending us, but deeply worried for their children. No matter how well trained or well armed they are, they are still our children.

Other than destroying tunnels, weapons and setting back the terrorists in a way that’s been largely effective, it was also discovered that plans were under way to launch a massive coordinated terrorist attack on Israeli civilians during our most holy season, Rosh Hashanah. Reports are that it was planned to send as many as 200 terrorists through as many as 45 tunnels from Gaza alone. Even if that’s only accurate by half, the potential for a massive terrorist attack was huge.

Several have said to me that the catalyst for the current military operation was the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenage boys in June. While the nation grieved and prayed, and Hamas opened a front by increasing rocket and missile fire at Israeli communities, Israel gave Hamas many opportunities to back down, to stop the rocket fire, and affirm that quiet will be met with quiet. Yet Hamas chose the other direction and is suffering the consequences.

While the loss of every one of the dozens of civilians and soldiers alike is devastating for Israel because we sanctify life, many have suggested that had it not been for their sacrifice, Israel would never have gone into Gaza now, never have exposed and destroyed the vast network of terrorist tunnels, and that in several weeks, Israel would have been at risk for suffering an unspeakable terrorist attack that could have rivaled that of September 11 in the United States.

While traveling, I got to experience firsthand the threats of anti-Semitic protests and threats that plague even established Jewish communities. I witnessed vile anti-Semitic protests at the CUFI Summit in Washington, D.C., and was saddened and concerned about the need for heightened security at synagogues, Jewish community centers, and other Jewish institutions. It’s reminded me that even in the best diaspora, living openly as Jew is not easy. I even considered taking off my kippa during travels to certain places because of concern for my own security and being an obvious target for anti-Semites, but that fleeting thought was squashed by my sense of pride and defiance.

I will spend Shabbat with friends whose son just finished his compulsory military service. Next week we will mourn and fast, marking the anniversary of the destruction of the First and Second Temples, as well as many other tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people. We are arguably in the midst of another tragedy. The difference is that we have our state in our homeland; that we have an army to defend us, and good people—Christians and Jews—all over the world, who stand with us.

We may be going through another hard time, but we’ve never had more resolve, never had more friends standing with us, even as anti-Semites try to hurt and kill us, and we will continue to pray for, and through our actions merit, the prophetic rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.  I’m just wondering, will it need bomb shelters when it is rebuilt?

Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and emigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. Throughout his life and career, he has been blessed by the calling to fellowship with Christian supporters of Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He writes a regular column for Charisma’s Standing With Israel. You can contact Jonathan at [email protected].