I, and my fellow Israelis and many Jews around the world, have struggled with this since Oct 7th. How do you respond to a casual “How are you?” or “I hope you had a wonderful weekend?”. Or to silence.
As part of my standing commitment to show up authentically I have shared my feelings with my clients and wanted to share them here with you too.
Many Israelis and Jews are currently grappling with the feeling of living in parallel universes.
Our hearts are broken. We are devastated by the unimaginable events of October 7th. Our trust in the Israeli government is diminished. The Israeli army’s lack of preparedness has left us shocked and disappointed.
It feels like the rug has been pulled out from under our feet.
October 7th, a date now etched into our collective memory, left no Israeli untouched. In our small country, we all have a connection to someone who was a victim of the barbaric attacks, whether it be a friend, a relative, or a friend of a friend.
The lucky ones are not mourning a death of a loved one. We are “only” constantly worried about our family and friends who have been kidnapped, drafted, called up into reserve duty, or have volunteered, risking their lives to protect others. And our family and friends who are frequently running in and out of shelters, with rockets threatening from the south and the north. The photo is of the house directly across the street from my uncle’s, hit by a rocket today. All the windows in my uncle’s house were also shattered by the blast. Luckily the people are safe, they were all in their shelters.
This situation consumes our thoughts. We tremble with fear for those dear to us, and the rise of antisemitism, with calls to “Gas the Jews” at anti-Israeli rallies, Stars of David painted on the homes of Jews, in Germany, adds an extra layer of fear that we’ve never experienced before. More details on the rise of antisemitism since October 7 here.
For some of us, volunteering or working offers a momentary escape from this ongoing crisis. We count ourselves fortunate to have that option.
An Israeli executive vulnerably shared how he feels and received emojis from colleagues and employees. Emojis.
An Israeli mother in my town, Lexington, MA, home to many Jews and Israelis, received a note from one of her children’s teachers asking if there is a problem at home, as the child seems sad at school. She was shocked by the teacher’s lack of awareness of what Israelis are currently experiencing.
When our American friends and colleagues ask why we seem so somber, wish us a wonderful day, or wonder if we had a great weekend, our stomachs turn. Why don’t they understand what we’re going through?
When they remain silent, it hurts. It is difficult for us to understand.
We are not living in the same world and it is hard to explain how tough this is.
How do we show up authentically in a world that doesn’t quite understand our reality?
Thinkers50 (a gathering of the top management thinkers world-wide) is coming up in London. I have so been looking forward to it. Yet I am personally struggling. How do I smile, network, meet people? Do I go? Do I stay home? Do I let Hamas take over my life?
I would love to hear any advice you have.
I also urge you to reach out to your Israeli and Jewish friends. Show them your support. It is ok to tell them you don’t know what to say. Give them a hug, a simple hug to convey the support and solidarity we so desperately need. Or send a loving note.
Help us feel like we are living in the same universe.
2 Notes:
My heart goes out to the Palestinian civilians being used as human shields by Hamas.
And to those of you who think of me as Australian, and remember my Australian accent when I speak English, you are not wrong. You likely have not heard my Israeli accent when I speak Hebrew. I am Israeli, Australian and American.