A COCKTAIL of emotions at the end of a week like no other.
Devastated at the deadliest attack on Jews since the Shoah.
Paul EdwardsA Jewish man and young girl hurry along the street in Golders Green, North London[/caption]
PABritish Jews are collectively anxious like never before[/caption]
Still bewildered that more than 1,300 Israelis – grandparents, mums, dads, teens and tiny kids – who were preparing for Shabbat just eight days ago were not with their families to light candles for Shabbat yesterday.
Instead we lit memorial candles for them.
Constantly thinking about what horrors the 150 kidnapped innocents might be put through at the hands of terrorist butchers in Gaza.
Fearful for British Jews who are collectively anxious like never before.
Disgusted at the rise in hate against our peace-loving community and sickened that some parents feel unable to send their kids to schools in London in 2023.
Struck by how many people seem unable or unwilling to recognise the stark difference in tone between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demos.
British Jews sung peace songs outside Downing Street last Monday while ‘supporters’ of the Palestinians chanted for the annihilation of Israel.
Not one poster called for Gaza to be freed from Hamas.
Dreading what we might see and hear on the streets of London, Paris and New York in the coming days.
Intensely grateful for the unequivocal solidarity of the PM, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Lib Dems, Mayor of London and so many others who stood side by side with us this week.
Moved by the many private messages of support from non-Jews and people of other faiths including British Muslims.
More thankful than ever that we have a King and heir who have rallied to support Israel and our community with no less commitment and vigour than they would any other.
Utterly exasperated at the failure of national institutions like the FA to do the same by unequivocally condemning terrorism and at the silence of the music world who have apparently decided dead Israeli terror victims are different from those in the US, UK and France.
Deeply fearful for the future of interfaith relations we’ve strongly backed if no senior UK Muslim cleric feels able to unequivocally, publicly condemn the horrors because of fears for their own safety.
Wanting to remind people everywhere that Hamas in no way represents Islam and hoping with every fibre that that community’s leaders find a way to say so.
No ifs and no buts.
Proud of the heroes of the Community Security Trust who guard our schools and synagogues, and the charity workers who have mobilised to raise funds for Israel’s blood service and others in desperate need.
Determined that Jewish News does its little bit, as we did this week by giving those organisations space to promote their appeals without cost.
Sick and tired of having to explain to some that nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify the horrors perpetrated by Hamas.
Distraught at the thought of what must be lurking on these peoples’ social media feeds to fuel denial of what was done to those babies – a type of reverse blood libel.
Determined that the world must know there is no parallel whatsoever between Hamas terrorists who meticulously plotted the murder of innocents and a country that gives civilians time to flee in order to launch an anti-terror operation.
Full of anguish for the innocents of Gaza.
Terrified at what will happen in the coming days, with the inevitable loss of life that Hamas knew would happen – and even revel in – when it hatched this evil plan.
Heartbroken at what will befall babies in neonatal units without electricity in Gaza.
Trusting (I know the value Judaism puts on every life) that Israel will do all it can to avoid the death of innocents while knowing that the realities of war mean this won’t always be enough.
Braced for the fact this counter-terror action will lead to more hate against Jews globally.
Praying that our amazing community remains united and focused on the most important tasks of bringing home the kidnapped even when other media are focusing on Gaza, and raising funds for those whose lives will never be the same again.
Hoping against hope that we all follow the lead of the inspirational Noam Sagi, whose elderly mum was kidnapped, in shunning calls for revenge and supporting any possible humanitarian move as the IDF sets out on its duty to destroy Hamas once and for all.
We must stay united. Or we hand Hamas another win in its eyes.
Wondering what other fronts could open up, how much worse this will all get for Israelis and Palestinians, and thinking when this will ever end.
Absolutely exhausted and numb. So imagine how those on the front line, civilians and soldiers, must be feeling.
Suddenly conscious that I’ve not written anything that has flowed so freely since my dad’s eulogy 10 months ago. Thinking about Jerusalem, the city he loved.
In tears – not for the first time today – at the thought of what awaits the region where we laid him to rest.
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