CBI Blogs

For almost a week, my eyes have been glued to the news, waiting with bated breath to know what is going on in my beloved Israel. I have sat in fear, worried about my dear friends across the world. I have wrung my hands, hoping and praying, knowing that there was little else I could do from Austin. Like many of you, I have had conversation after conversation about what is happening, attempting to comprehend the overwhelming situation.

This is a deeply emotional issue. There are many sides to this issue. As I said to our Living a Jewish Life class this past Tuesday, the one constant truth is that the violence and bloodshed needs to end. While there are a multitude of opinions about why this happened, and how this happened, one thing we do know for sure is that it is NEVER acceptable for innocent people just living their lives to be brutally murdered, kidnapped, held hostage, or exist in constant fear. That is true for the people of Israel, just as it is true for the innocent Palestinians in Gaza, those who are caught in the crossfire.

While we continue to pray together for peace, lasting peace, we also want to do what we can to help. We have compiled a list of resources on our website to provide you with easy access for making donations. There are a multitude of sources to choose from, all of which have assured that 100% of donations made go directly to people in need. If you feel so moved to make a donation to one of these organizations, please know that you will help thousands of Israelis and Palestinians.

Additionally, our website will include resources for how to speak to your children about what’s going on in Israel. These materials will give you age-appropriate talking points, as well as help you address how to handle social media with your older students. We know that there is some confusion for our younger children about what is happening, and our older children are being inundated with negative posts and sentiments, both online and in person. If you need further assistance in speaking with your children, or need a safe space to share your concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.

Over the next several weeks, as the situation continues to unfold and as we continue to seek answers to our questions, we know that coming together as a community to express our love and support of the Jewish people and the people of Israel will be crucial. It’s also important to take care of yourself and your family, so if that means taking a break from the news, social media, or disconnecting for a while; do it. Many of us feel guilty because we are exhausted from hearing about everything happening while knowing it’s not happening directly to us. You are also allowed to feel exhausted, to feel the extreme grief, to need a moment away from it all, without feeling guilty. You are allowed to feel terrible about what’s happening and still go enjoy a movie, or go for a walk, or do what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family.

Please know that we are here for you, ready to support you, to listen, to cry with you, to provide any assistance we can. As we pray for peace and safety for all, we also pray for an end to violence and oppression, of further bloodshed and trauma. May we soon know peace, may our world be filled with peace, and may we all live in a world that provides safety and security for all its inhabitants.