When October 7th, 2023 happened, one of the most distinctive feelings I carried – and I’m sure I’m not alone in this – was guilt for not “doing enough.” My husband wasn’t in reserves. Thank God we were far enough from the Gaza border to not have been physically impacted in the same way as communities in the south. I’m saying this with tremendous gratitude, privilege – and as I mentioned, guilt.
At the beginning of the war, I did my best to support those who felt the physical effects of the Hamas massacre. Like many in my community, I cooked meals for wives whose husbands were fighting in Gaza. I helped deliver food to army bases, and whenever I saw an opportunity to contribute – either monetarily or through community service – I would. Yet, the lingering feeling remained. Was it survivor’s guilt? Something else?
I imagine many of you have felt this too. Watching the events unfold in Israel, not knowing how to help. Knowing that God’s land, and the Jewish and non-Jewish citizens alike inside, are suffering. The guilt persists, even a year later.
For me, one thing that has helped mitigate some of the guilt, even turning that feeling into a sense of empowerment, is learning more about the victims – really, the heroes – of October 7th. Every person who was brutally killed, injured, or participated in rescue efforts is a hero. They are also humans – with stories, personalities, and families. Interests, hobbies, each with a unique contribution to the world.
When the war started, I quickly found that the best way to get involved, for me at least – and beyond helping those around me, was through learning about the people whose lives were taken far too early by senseless acts of terror. To some extent, I was doing my part to keep their memories alive when I learned everything I could about these people. And then, in my acts of kindness, I would dedicate my actions to the heroes of the war.
That is how the book, “Into the Fire,” was born. How can we remember, make holy, and ultimately pay tribute to the almost 2,000 people who have been killed in the last year? To the survivors who live without limbs or family members, who will forever have a sense of stolen time from the blissful life they once lived? We can never make sense of the sheer horror that has befallen Israel, of the senseless hatred that has taken over so much of the culture in our world. But we can make sure that these people – these children, these grandparents, these heroes – did not die in vain.
Now, you and I know we can’t end the war. We alone do not have the power to find Sinwar, the evil, sadistic leader of Hamas, and make him release the hostages. We cannot bring the fallen victims back to life. To me, that sounds like a job for Messiah. And hopefully, he’s on his way soon! But in the meantime, we can keep these heroes’ memories alive. We can do that by reading their stories, listening to their voices, internalizing their messages, and carrying on their legacy. We can give their memories life in this way. The evils of the world can never take that away from us.
At the beginning of my book, I want to have a dedication page where we all come together as a community to show our love and support for the heroes whose stories I’ve shared. I’m inviting you to be part of this. By including your name in this book, we’re letting the world know that you, too, are taking a stand against evil. That you’re doing your part to memorialize our brothers and sisters whose lives have been forever changed by October 7th.
I know it might seem like a small gesture, but I believe it’s these acts of remembrance and solidarity that truly matter. They show that we refuse to let the memories of these heroes fade, that we’re committed to carrying their legacies forward.
If you’d like to be part of this commemoration, I’m suggesting a donation of $36. It might seem like an arbitrary number, but it has a beautiful significance in our tradition. In Hebrew, the letters Yud and Chet spell “Chai,” which as many know, means “life.” Their numerical value is 18. I chose 36 because it represents double life – life for you and life for the hero we’re remembering.
The book is going to print in just six days. I’d be honored if you’d join me in this project. Together, we can ensure that these stories are told, these lives are honored as well, and these heroes are never forgotten. Your support would mean the world to me and to all those affected by the events of October 7th.
Will you help me bless this project and keep their memories alive?
