Over the years I’ve learned more medicine than I ever wanted to know. Over the past year, I’ve learned more prayers than I ever wanted to know.
For example, I have learned four prayers that I always thought were one. You know, each one had a little twist in the wording, a little additional poetry, just to catch one’s attention. The four prayers are from “Avinu Malkeinu,” recited in many synagogues around the world since Oct. 7, 2023, and in any case recited universally during the Ten Days of Repentance.
Prayer #1: “Our Father our King, act for the sake of those killed for Your Holy Name.”
Prayer #2: “Our Father our King, act for the sake of those slaughtered for Your Oneness.”
Prayer #3: “Our Father our King, act for those who went into fire and water for the sanctification of Your Name.”
Prayer #4: “Our Father our King, avenge before our eyes the spilt blood of Your servants.”
No longer is there a single, if fourfold, prayer in my consciousness. No longer. After Oct. 7, I see four separate prayers.
On Oct. 7, there were those who were killed. Shot, for example, murdered in cold blood. That’s the first prayer.
Then there were others on Oct. 7 who were slaughtered. This wasn’t the same as killed. Not the same reality, not the same brutality. Pictures, video and testimony show this. That’s the second prayer.
There were still others who went into fire. This wasn’t the same as killed or slaughtered. It was different. It showed up in the incinerated house and the morgues. That’s the third prayer.
There were others whose spilt blood showed up on surfaces and various other places — blood, just small pieces of it, required for identification. This was independent of killed, slaughtered or burned. That’s the fourth prayer.
Since Oct. 7, of the prayers I’ve learned that I never wanted to know, this is just four of them. “Avinu Malkeinu” has others. There are still others in the prayerbook.
Mine was a double learning.
The first learning is that these prayers are not poetic license, variation for emphasis. They reflect the horrendous reality that Jews around the world — not to mention the survivors of Oct. 7 themselves — have had to live with this past year.
The second learning is the realization that these prayers are not new. “Avinu Malkeinu” is an old and venerable prayer. The four particular prayers that I cite reflect a pre-Oct. 7, 2023 reality. Last year was not the first time, not even close.
All that has been hammered into me over the past year.
Also over the past year, I’ve learned more about headlines than I ever wanted to know. I could cite hundreds and hundreds, but will suffice with a single headline. It appeared on page 1 of the Denver Post, Oct. 8, over a picture and story reporting on the events marking the first anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023. My wife Elaine pointed out the headline to me: “Anniversary of Hamas raids.”
“As in, raiding the refrigerator?” she asked rhetorically.
The “raids” of Oct. 7, 2023:
Babies are murdered in their cribs. Nice to know that this was merely a “raid.”
Girls are raped. Not to worry, it was only a “raid.”
Some 250 people are kidnapped. That, and the anguish of the hostage families, are remembered as but a “raid.” A “raid” that is continuing, as some 100 hostages are still held, their whereabouts and welfare unknown, their families encompassed in suffering, many of their fellow hostages murdered or otherwise brutalized to death — a “raid” that is still happening. But don’t get worked up over it. It’s only a “raid.”
Parents are murdered in front of their children. Not so bad, really — just a “raid.”
Young people at a music festival are hunted down like animals for the slaughter. Please, don’t make a big deal out of the memory of this “raid.”
Fruitful farmland is scorched. Sorry to call this a mere “raid” at a time of worldwide concern over climate change.
What does the dictionary say about “raid?” It’s defined as a sudden invasion “on a small scale” or a surprise attack “by a small force.” Such a pity that the Jews in and out of Israel have made such a big thing out of such a small scale invasion by such a small force on Oct. 7, 2023.
I’ve read more of this type of headline than I ever wanted to see. You may have, too — the headlines that diminish, distort or misconstrue what Hamas did in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Also over the past year I’ve learned more about “genocide” than I ever wanted to know.
I’ve learned that “genocide” doesn’t denote the intentional murder of a whole people, or even the attempt. “Genocide” isn’t always an act of aggression. It is also an act of defense. I didn’t know that. Defend yourself against those who profess to want to commit genocide against you and your people. Presto, your own defense is an act of genocide!
I’ve learned that “genocide” is not rare. Lo and behold, it’s everywhere that Israel attempts to protect its country against destruction. Israel discovers and destroys tunnels hiding terrorists who intend to kill Israelis, and it’s the Israelis who take out the terrorists who are committing the “genocide.” I never knew that before.
I’ve learned that “genocide” is not only mass murder, but the destruction of underground arms-smuggling routes. Imagine how narrow my knowledge was. I thought “genocide” applied to people. Now I’ve learned that it also applies to earth and concrete that facilitate the transfer of lethal weapons. It also applies to weapons depots piled up for the purpose of killing you because you exist.
Turns out, there’s genocide all around when Israel or Israelis are involved.
My learning curve has gone way up this past year.
It’s been a very tough year. Ignorance was bliss.
© IJN 2024
