We are a nation of extremes. The horrific division between us that peaked on Yom Kippur has been replaced with a unity that has not been seen here for as long as I can remember. The pendulum has swung from one extreme – of sin’as chinam – all the way to the other side – of ahavas chinam. The constant stream of stories showing love, caring, and support for one another continues to branch out further into more acts of kindness. Who we are now radically differs from who we were just over two weeks ago. We are unrecognizable. But this is us. The real us. We are being kind not just to our own, but even more so, to the “other.”
Members of Achim L’Neshek, a left-wing organization that demonstrated weekly against the current government, and members of the Regavim movement, a right-wing organization whose goal is to prevent the illegal seizure of state land, sang and danced with each other at the end of a day they spent working together in the fields of the Gaza Envelope. A chareidi man and a member of Achim L’Neshek volunteered together to do agricultural work in the fields of a resident of the Eshkol region who was murdered on Simchas Torah. The two posed for a photo, arm in arm, in a display of unity we are not accustomed to. Two-and-a-half weeks ago, these scenes would have been unimaginable.
Notices offering free lodging in apartments, guest houses, and private homes are posted everywhere for residents of the North and South who need to relocate. I read a sign advertising 150 vacant, fully furnished, and fully stocked apartments in Tel Aviv, available at no cost to whoever needs them.
Three men from the Karlin chasidus spent the night going from one shiv’ah home to another. They were not visiting other chasidim. They were going to Jews from across the spectrum of klal Yisrael, ones they would never have made contact with, in the previous world, the one that existed before Simchas Torah. One chasid explained that their rebbe stated that just as terrorists don’t distinguish between types of Jews, neither should we.
When providing for others, many don’t just do the minimum, but also add small and thoughtful touches that foster love and good feeling. Bnot Sherut (girls doing their national service) do laundry for chayalim and leave surprise notes of thanks and encouragement in their pockets.
On Friday, a beautifully wrapped, heart-shaped cake was delivered to my home. Attached was a note thanking us for our son’s service in the IDF. Now is an opportune time for me to thank those of you who reached out to me personally and sent me messages of support. I appreciate it. These things make a difference.
There is a burgeoning openness to new ideas and rituals. Many soldiers are wearing kippot and tzitzis for the first time in their lives. A joke is going around about a mother who tells her religious daughter, also serving in the army, to look for a boy for herself among the soldiers. The girl claims that she can’t do that. So many soldiers are now wearing kippot and tzitzis that she can’t tell who is religious.
Racheli Moskowitz, a writer for B’Sheva Magazine, poignantly sums up the welcome change that has suddenly evolved. She asks Hashem if He has seen the t’shuvah that we are witnessing: the demonstrators on two opposite sides who have now joined together on one side, the people who left davening on Yom Tov to run to rescue their brothers, the recent epiphany that we are indeed all brothers.
She asks Hashem if He has seen the outpouring of t’filah – the constant T’hilim being said worldwide, individually, in groups, live, and on Zoom, chayalim putting their hands on each other’s heads and davening for each other before heading into battle. She asks Hashem if He sees all of the tz’dakah being given: the truckloads of food, equipment, toys, diapers, volunteers doing all they can to help those who were called up, their families, and relocated families.
Then she asks if all of these things reached Hashem. Did they break open the gates of heaven? T’shuvah, t’filah, and tz’dakah. Can He be “maavir es ro’a ha’g’zeirah (remove the evil decree)” already?
Please continue to daven for the wounded, and the missing, and the success and safe return of all of our chayalim and security personnel.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
