Three years after Oct. 7, Jews are still a people who sing
Three years ago this week, on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping some 250 more in the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Three years later, I am still trying to make sense of everything that has happened since.
TL;DR
- The author reflects on the lasting impact of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, three years later.
- The attack led to significant personal and communal shifts, with many Jewish Americans experiencing unexpected reactions from their communities.
- The author recounts personal struggles with antisemitism and threats at their college.
- A concert by Israeli musician Idan Raichel provided a new perspective on his song 'Bo'i' (Come).
- Initially heard as a love song, 'Bo'i' now represents the collective Jewish experience of moving forward in uncertainty.
- The act of hundreds of people singing together in Hebrew highlighted the Jewish people's deep-rooted tradition of singing through all life events.
- This shared singing offered a respite from constant responses to antisemitism and external pressures, emphasizing survival through tradition and a shared purpose.
- The author concludes that despite ongoing pain and uncertainty, the Jewish community continues to live, build, and sing, embodying a resilience that has spanned thousands of years.