Dear Israel, I know how lonely it can feel to be you, all tiny and blue and shimmering and sparkling on your sliver of land on the sea. I know because I was there, and I know because I am here, that you feel like so many in the world don't care about you, and aren't listening to your people and aren't feeling your pain. I know because I have been upset about this, too, my sweet Israel. I have fallen into this trap lately of despair, and of hopelessness. I have let myself get down and depressed, and honestly I have felt quite discouraged.
But Israel - I am writing to say that I was wrong!
Tonight, in a group in Charlotte, I saw a woman say: "I AM FREAKING OUT!" and she had posted a picture that said a large attack in Israel was expected. I instantly commented, "Don't worry! We are strong! We will prevail!" and everyone was commenting saying similar things, and saying to pray for Israel right now for the weekend, and yes, sure, okay, Israel, this was in an Israel-related group, but it still matters, Israel. It all still matters, because...
I began picturing these tiny lines of light going from Charlotte to Israel, from every single person that was having these thoughts of worry or thoughts of love or thoughts of prayer in your direction, and it made me wonder if my friends' armpits were tickling over there as they slept in their beds, (as opposed to the normal ear ringing that I imagine when I know they are awake...)
And yes, I know this sounds a bit silly or corny (or maybe even both) and that's sort of on purpose, because it is Day 301 of this war for all of us, which of course means for the hostages in Gaza, which of course means for their families, and I admit that I am more than just very nervous going into this weekend, so I really do need to lighten it up a bit, and this idea that the love in the Diaspora is creating hair-thin blue lines of light toward Israel right now...is fabulous.
Yet tonight I really reflected on my last year, or ten months I should say, and realized how I've devoted most of my thoughts, my mental energy, my creative energy, my anguish, my worries, my concerns, my time, my money and literally - my everything - to people I never knew, and in many cases, won't ever know. I've spent my year loving and worrying about strangers, and this loving and worrying about strangers has brought some incredible new friends into my life, because they're the friends and family of the strangers I care so much about that I will never meet, or in a few cases that I will hopefully meet, when they're released from Gaza.
It has been a very love-filled year. Yes, I think I can say that; a unique kind of love inside a kind of year that makes us examine what's important and unite as one and be the strength for others when they cannot be it for themselves, just as we have all needed others to be for us at other times.
And SO Israel, this is just a quick pep talk of a note going into this weekend to say thank you and let you know that I'm watching, that a lot of us are watching - and that we're all caring, we're all paying attention, we're all praying...so keep glimmering out there, all shiny and blue, just keep doing what you've been doing, one Shabbat Shalom at a time.
Love, Melanie (and whoever else agrees) I am saving to move back to Israel by the end of the year to tell the stories of the hostages, the survivors and to write about Kibbutz Be'eri. If you want to help, visit my GoFundMe
#BRINGTHEMHOME #BRINGTHEMHOMENOW #TURNTHEHORRORINTOHOPEhat I'm w all praying... so keep glimmering out there, all shiny and blue, just keep doing what you've been doing,
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