(Newsweek) Yael Eckstein - One by one, as men were dancing with the Torah in celebration of the holiday of Simchat Torah on Saturday, the phones in their pockets began buzzing. Each one of them had the same response - they kissed the Torah, hugged their friends, then ran home to change into their army fatigues. In the span of an hour, nearly a dozen men in our tiny synagogue were called up to reserve duty in the Israel Defense Forces. In Israel, unfortunately, we have gotten used to things that no one should have to get used to: thousands of rockets being launched at our cities. Cafes being blown up. Stabbing attacks at bus stops. Terror tunnels being dug under our towns, even our homes. But we have never experienced anything like this. Watching a mother and baby being taken hostage by terrorists is a living nightmare. But no one should think that we have lost even a bit of hope. Israel is a nation born of hope in the face of disaster, a people of hope despite endless catastrophes. It embodies a spirit of hope that can't be extinguished - although many have tried. Am Yisrael Chai - the nation of Israel lives! The writer is President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
2023-10-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive