A Frightening Time to be Jewish

I was having a hard time today. I was feeling overwhelmed with current events, and watching video footage of a violent mob in Russia that took over an airport because they heard a flight was arriving from Israel. This mob had the expressed purpose of "killing the Jews"

I have felt so frustrated that the news keeps showing footage of Gaza and the horrible effects of bombing there, yet the news fails to mention that Hamas continues to fire hundreds of rockets at Israel daily. Israel dropped thousands of fliers urging Palestinian people to move to southern Gaza out of harms way - but the news failed to show that Hamas set up roadblocks and prevented civilians from heading south because Hamas wants more dead Palestinians because they know this helps their cause.

There is no shortage of voices screaming to "Free Palestine" on the internet yet many of these individuals know very little about the history of this conflict. Talking points will never do justice to the complicated political, historical and cultural divisions of this area.

People have put up fliers of the individuals that Hamas has taken hostage (over 200+ men, women and children) and these fliers have been torn down. Jewish students at NYC College were forced to hide in a Library Attic to escape a Pro-Hamas Mob. This isn't abstract, the ADL has recorded a dramatic Increase in U.S. Antisemitic Incidents in the past two weeks. Antisemitic Incidents have hit the highest Level Ever Recorded.

I don't like Netanyahu, I disagree with most of his policies, but NOTHING justifies the brutal torture, rape and slaughter of over 1300 innocent Israelis. Without even acknowledging the need to mourn their loved ones, Jews are being told it is their fault. Massive protests chanting "Death to Israel" or "Kill the Jews" is NOT going to free Palestine. Hamas are terrorists. They don't want peace. Their only goal is the eradication of Jews.

Please please please look beyond the headlines that are only designed to get ratings and try to learn more about BOTH sides of this issue and understand that your Jewish friends are struggling right now. They are mourning, they are scared, they are angry, and they feel very alone.