Exhaustion
It gets harder and harder to read the news, especially the news about Israel. I find myself more stressed than I have since the first few months post October 7th.
I mourn the hostages. The idea that one human could treat another like that is so awful and hard to understand. The lack of empathy worldwide for the intense suffering of these families also breaks my heart.
I so want the suffering in Gaza to end. Yes, Hamas is willing to sacrifice and create unlivable conditions for Palestinians in Gaza. Yes Israel has levers it can influence (and I see them using some of them) to get more aid into Gaza. But at the end of the day, I’m not really thinking politically. I’m just sad that the suffering continues with no end in sight.
The Israelis I speak to sound exhausted. Across the political and religious spectrum, the mood has changed. After the stunning success against Iran it felt like this would all come to an end. People saw hope that this would be great for Israel and potentially even great for the Palestinians. Yet the slog is back and feels worse than ever. People sound exhausted and stuck. People even realize they are stuck saying the same things, the same ideas, but with less and less conviction.
I am sad that we are yelling at each other. It can be hard to bring up Israel among dear friends and family because it can so quickly turn angry and toxic. I see people using such insulting and dismissive language towards people I know and respect on Facebook. That culture of disrespect feels corrosive to me. Surely we can disagree without insult?
I don’t know the way forward. So much has been broken and peace seems further away than ever. But I do find one thing hopeful. My exhaustion and pain is caused by an excess of love and empathy. I love Israel and want it surviving and thriving. I have empathy for the suffering of Palestinians regardless of its cause and want that suffering to end. I cannot see the path forward, but I have faith there is one. My exhaustion is coming from love and I have faith that love ultimately will always strengthen us.
Right now I am trying to worry less about political choices and how the war advances and more about love and empathy. I am trying to read less news and instead connect with more family and friends. I pray that God will strengthen the hands of the peacemakers and enable leaders to emerge who can show us the way out of this darkness into a hopeful tomorrow.
It is in You we hope, God. We place our trust in You.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Booth
