I decided to wait until October 7 to write my column. Remembering the tragic events of October 7, 2023, has a greater effect on a person’s psyche on October 7 than any other day, even the day before. It had been hard to focus on work today even though I had not yet had gone to any events.
As painful as 9/11 was, at least the next year things seemed to be moving in the right direction. In contrast, in many ways, the situation for Israel and Jews in general has gotten worse.
Since October 7, 2023, the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents in the United States has grown more than 200 percent. Support for Israel has been falling, especially with young people. The fact that Israel did not start the war against Hamas or Hezbollah is lost on many people. The fact that Israel is warning Arab residents, which also warns the Hamas and Hezbollah fighters as to what their next move is, does not matter. The fact that Hamas and Hezbollah are using hospitals and mosques to store weapons and as command centers is ignored. Hamas is spending money to build tunnels instead of using it to help the people of Gaza, yet they are seen by many, in Gaza and abroad, as those who are looking out for the people in Gaza.
People hear numbers and see pictures of destruction and death and blame Israel. They ignore the context. It is an unfortunate that civilians die during war. No army can avoid “collateral damage,” no matter how good they are. An army’s goal is to win the war as soon as possible. The dilemma of winning the war and possibility avoiding more casualties in the future versus the death of innocent civilians was played out in the choice whether to use the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both nonmilitary targets.
As successful as Israel has been militarily, Israel has not yet been able to eliminate Hamas or totally weaken Hezbollah. Today, rockets and missiles were fired from Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. Israel is still contemplating how to respond to Iran’s missile attack.
It has been a miracle that few missiles have penetrated Israel’s defenses, and those that have caused relatively few casualties or little damage. That does not diminish the fact that Israel’s enemies have tried. The world seems to forget that.
It is ironic that France, which does not supply any weapons to Israel, is calling for an arms embargo because of how Israel is conducting the war. France would not be a country but for foreign support. France has not won a war since 1918 and that was because the Americans and British helped them. France lasted six weeks against Germany in 1940.
In contrast, despite the protests on college campuses and Arab communities in Michigan, a swing state, the United States has remained a strong supporter of Israel by supplying the necessary weapons and helping Israel defend itself when Iran attacked it. No matter who wins the election, I do not expect that to change.
There have been many events commemorating the anniversary. I was able to see on Zoom the commemoration event at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Park as well as join the program at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel.
Each event had its purpose. The Queens Museum had politicians, music, and some stories. The Ahavas Yisroel program was geared toward a frum crowd. What I liked about the Ahavas Yisroel program is that there was a siyum on the Mishna. I learned Mishna Sukkos. It was a win-win situation. I was able to learn Torah; the community was able to learn Torah as a community and celebrate as a community. Additionally, it was done in the memory of those who were killed on October 7.
Yom Kippur is coming. We need to try to improve ourselves not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of fellow Jews all over the world. We are all in this together. May we all be sealed for a year of life, health, and happiness. May October 7, 2025, become a day of joy instead of sorrow.
Warren S. Hecht is a local attorney. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
