On the eve of Yom Kippur, a post was published on an online community for fans of Discworld, a book series by British fantasy author Terry Pratchett, reading as follows:
"I need a quote for courage.
Last year tomorrow someone tried to blow me and my synagogue up in the morning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our year.
Tomorrow morning is Yom Kippur and I'm walking to synagogue again.
I'm scared to go.
Please can you help me find STP quotes to give me courage?"
I came across this post after the holiday here in Israel, just as reports began to arrive about yet another attack on the Kol HaNeshamah community in Jerusalem, and my heart broke. For how heartbreaking it is that so many people around the world are gripped by fear: not the fear of God, nor the trembling awe one might fittingly feel on this holy day, but a far more paralyzing fear: the fear of brutal, man-made violence. And how heartbreaking it is that this fear is, tragically, so well-founded.
I also had the privilege and obligation to spend a day this week walking the Via Dolorosa in East Jerusalem, where I joined the good people of "Window to Mount Zion" and the Hotline for Freedom of Religion—groups of dedicated volunteers compelled to maintain a protective presence for Christian religious institutions and clergy exposed to repeated attacks in Jerusalem. During a two-hour shift, we counted five incidents of spitting at churches and at clergy wearing crosses; yet, this was considered a "good" day, involving harm only to the soul rather than to property or the body.
Unfortunately, the three pilgrimage festivals, alongside March of the Flags,have become days of fear and dread for the Christian and Muslim residents of the Old City, due to the aggressive takeover of Jerusalem’s Old City streets by the Jewish public.
Jewish holidays often serve as a flimsy pretext for blatant violations of the Palestinian residents' freedom of movement and freedom of religion.
Fear.
But after the heartbreak, I was also filled with comfort, because the forum to which that anonymous Jewish woman had turned responded swiftly, powerfully, and abundantly:
“It's not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren't doing it.”
“Sometimes you have to be brave for two people, or three, or a whole village.”
And last one: “And Sergeant Colon once again knew a secret about bravery. It was arguably a kind of enhanced cowardice – the knowledge that while death may await you if you advance, it will be a picnic compared to the certain living hell that awaits should you retreat.”
But my point is not merely the different types of courage that Terry Pratchett- and the forum - mapped out for her and for us; it is the forum itself. It is the other community she chose to turn to, not the Jewish community she spoke of in her post, nor the members of the synagogue, although our own sources are replete with quotes to fortify both spirit and resolve. Instead, she chose to reach outward. She chose to trust that her online community would come to her aid during this complex moment, to gain a different perspective and seek out wider circles of support.
She also made the brave choice to speak openly about her Jewish identity, despite knowing that doing so might expose her to further attacks.
When our own community comes under attack, alongside the natural instinct to hunker down and close the gates, there is real power in reaching out, in calling for help and rallying additional forces to our side. There is power in mobilizing a protective presence, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise.
In just a few days, we will mark three years since the October 7th massacre, the most wretched day the Jewish people have endured since the fall of the Nazi regime in Germany.
The need and desire to retreat into our own private sphere and hold fast to what is ours are clear and understandable; yet, in the coming weeks, we ask you to resist that impulse.
We also ask you, time and again, to demonstrate various forms of courage: the olive harvest season begins this year on October 16th, and once more, we will be on the ground alongside Palestinian farmers and communities.
Every bit of help is vital and meaningful; please sign up and join us, or find other ways to support the Harvest Coalition.
In closing, I am sharing a new prayer for Simchat Torah, written by Rabbi Chen Tzafoni, translated by Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz :
A New Prayer for Simchat Torah
Our God, and God of our fathers and our mothers, may it be your will,
in these trembling days, when the joy of Torah is tempered by awe and apprehension at the time that lies before us,
That you lead us to life and to peace, guide our footsteps to peace and to blessing,
as we complete our journey through the Torah and begin it anew, from Bereishit
Send blessing upon the work of our hands, laboring for a Torah of life, a Torah of salvation and peace.
Hear our pleas for peace and justice, life and kindness.
Grant peace among us, peace in our homes, peace for the sons and daughters of Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar,
and may our Torah be a tree of life.
Blessed are you Hashem, who hears prayers.
And let us say Amen.
*This Dvar Torah is dedicated to Major Ido Hubra, who was courageous, smart and so funny, and who fell on October 7th while defending his family, his people, and his homeland. His memory is a blessing, every day and always.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Dana Sharon is the Head of the Rabbis Network of Rabbis for Human Rights.
"I need a quote for courage.
Last year tomorrow someone tried to blow me and my synagogue up in the morning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our year.
Tomorrow morning is Yom Kippur and I'm walking to synagogue again.
I'm scared to go.
Please can you help me find STP quotes to give me courage?"
I came across this post after the holiday here in Israel, just as reports began to arrive about yet another attack on the Kol HaNeshamah community in Jerusalem, and my heart broke. For how heartbreaking it is that so many people around the world are gripped by fear: not the fear of God, nor the trembling awe one might fittingly feel on this holy day, but a far more paralyzing fear: the fear of brutal, man-made violence. And how heartbreaking it is that this fear is, tragically, so well-founded.
I also had the privilege and obligation to spend a day this week walking the Via Dolorosa in East Jerusalem, where I joined the good people of "Window to Mount Zion" and the Hotline for Freedom of Religion—groups of dedicated volunteers compelled to maintain a protective presence for Christian religious institutions and clergy exposed to repeated attacks in Jerusalem. During a two-hour shift, we counted five incidents of spitting at churches and at clergy wearing crosses; yet, this was considered a "good" day, involving harm only to the soul rather than to property or the body.
Unfortunately, the three pilgrimage festivals, alongside March of the Flags,have become days of fear and dread for the Christian and Muslim residents of the Old City, due to the aggressive takeover of Jerusalem’s Old City streets by the Jewish public.
Jewish holidays often serve as a flimsy pretext for blatant violations of the Palestinian residents' freedom of movement and freedom of religion.
Fear.
But after the heartbreak, I was also filled with comfort, because the forum to which that anonymous Jewish woman had turned responded swiftly, powerfully, and abundantly:
“It's not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren't doing it.”
“Sometimes you have to be brave for two people, or three, or a whole village.”
And last one: “And Sergeant Colon once again knew a secret about bravery. It was arguably a kind of enhanced cowardice – the knowledge that while death may await you if you advance, it will be a picnic compared to the certain living hell that awaits should you retreat.”
But my point is not merely the different types of courage that Terry Pratchett- and the forum - mapped out for her and for us; it is the forum itself. It is the other community she chose to turn to, not the Jewish community she spoke of in her post, nor the members of the synagogue, although our own sources are replete with quotes to fortify both spirit and resolve. Instead, she chose to reach outward. She chose to trust that her online community would come to her aid during this complex moment, to gain a different perspective and seek out wider circles of support.
She also made the brave choice to speak openly about her Jewish identity, despite knowing that doing so might expose her to further attacks.
When our own community comes under attack, alongside the natural instinct to hunker down and close the gates, there is real power in reaching out, in calling for help and rallying additional forces to our side. There is power in mobilizing a protective presence, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise.
In just a few days, we will mark three years since the October 7th massacre, the most wretched day the Jewish people have endured since the fall of the Nazi regime in Germany.
The need and desire to retreat into our own private sphere and hold fast to what is ours are clear and understandable; yet, in the coming weeks, we ask you to resist that impulse.
We also ask you, time and again, to demonstrate various forms of courage: the olive harvest season begins this year on October 16th, and once more, we will be on the ground alongside Palestinian farmers and communities.
Every bit of help is vital and meaningful; please sign up and join us, or find other ways to support the Harvest Coalition.
In closing, I am sharing a new prayer for Simchat Torah, written by Rabbi Chen Tzafoni, translated by Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz :
A New Prayer for Simchat Torah
Our God, and God of our fathers and our mothers, may it be your will,
in these trembling days, when the joy of Torah is tempered by awe and apprehension at the time that lies before us,
That you lead us to life and to peace, guide our footsteps to peace and to blessing,
as we complete our journey through the Torah and begin it anew, from Bereishit
Send blessing upon the work of our hands, laboring for a Torah of life, a Torah of salvation and peace.
Hear our pleas for peace and justice, life and kindness.
Grant peace among us, peace in our homes, peace for the sons and daughters of Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar,
and may our Torah be a tree of life.
Blessed are you Hashem, who hears prayers.
And let us say Amen.
*This Dvar Torah is dedicated to Major Ido Hubra, who was courageous, smart and so funny, and who fell on October 7th while defending his family, his people, and his homeland. His memory is a blessing, every day and always.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Dana Sharon is the Head of the Rabbis Network of Rabbis for Human Rights.