My friend Noa Tishby, on the anniversary of the infamous October 7th massacre of young & peaceful music loving Jewish children — gave what counts as a homily in my book.
She spoke eloquently about the loss, and at the same time the rising tide of the current wave of antisemitism, with a few well chosen words of resilience and courage.
The Courage that defines today’s Israel, in the face of unwarranted terrorist animus, indiscriminate atrocities, and public prosecution of worldwide media, unparalleled in modern history.
This is what Noa had to say:
“It’s impossible to stand here today, a year after the most tragic event of our lifetime, and not feel the weight of the loss, our county and our people have endured.
We are not okay.
And that’s okay to say.
I wish I could tell you that we are standing here and that the rest of the world is standing with us.
With you.
Sadly I can’t say that.
There is a loud and aggressive minority around the world who doesn’t get, that being murdered at a peace festival, does not equal resistance.
I do however, know that we are standing here on behalf of all those people in the world, with moral clarity. And there are a lot of them. And there are many who want to be here with you. And they are here with you, at heart.
On October 7th, your loved ones went to Nova music & peace festival. We call it a peace music festival because that’s what it was — a place to make new friends, to let loose, to explore and to celebrate life.
And this juxtaposition hurts the most — because on that day, the light your loved ones were, was met with the most unimaginable darkness.
Our lives will never be the same.
But today, as we remember them, we also make a promise: to honor their memory by living as they would have.
As we stand here in grief, we have a message to the world:
We will not be defeated.
Israel was attacked on October 7th, and every day since, for the crime of existing.
For the audacity of just being here.
But we are here, and we are here to stay.
And despite the trauma we’ve faced, we are in Israel, standing strong together, committed to the memories of those we lost and to the return of our hostages.
We, despite the pain and alongside it, are going to build a brighter future.
Together, we will dance again.”
Yours,
Dr Churchill
PS:
And here’s the Youtube video of the NOVA music festival memorial where Noa Tishby spoke: