Sundays are a workday here in Israel. School is in session on Sundays with a shortened format to accommodate teacher's in services and meetings. Yesterday was one such meeting.
This week, our meeting was nestled snuggly between Holocaust Memorial Day and our national Memorial Day (for fallen soldiers and victims of terror). So we spoke and voiced our fears and concerns about global antisemitism.
We shared personal and family stories.
We shared fears for the safety of Jews outside of Israel.
We reveled in the fact that our enemies are being clear and not hiding themselves.
Here in my classroom, I sat with about 45 educated adults talking about our current reality.
Being vulnerable.
Sharing truths and fears.
I came home and in chatting with my husband I realized what has been weighing so heavily on my subconscious. It's not the antisemitism and blood libel. It's the fact that so many people are so silent. The inaction is staggering. For me, as I read article after article and watch clip after clip, I began to notice a common thread... No one is doing a damn thing about it.
Hate speech
Blood libel
Violence
Protests
Victim blaming
Shaming
Gaslighting
Yet it feels like those who have a voice... Do NOT use it. It's better to shut the windows and pull the curtains tight than stand up for discourse and conversation. Meaningful healing.
So again, I think about this group of adults who are less than two months from the end of the school year. These compassionate, bold, and vulnerable human beings trying to create meaning and purpose for ourselves and our students through what may feel like insurmountable circumstances.
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