Empty Seats

 

Friday evenings before the Sabbath, Jewish families traditionally gather for a special meal. With everyone seated at the table, the blessing over wine is recited, a sip is taken followed by savoring a chunk of challah dipped in salt. Homes instantly become infused with a special warmth and sweetness. In Israel last month as meals ended, three to four thousand young adults throughout the country left their seats and headed out for the much anticipated Super Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. The festival grounds were at a stunning natural location full of trees near Kibbutz Re’im situated about three miles from the border with Gaza. It was to be a joyous night and day of music and dancing. 

It wasn’t. 

As the sun rose in the eastern sky the unimaginable became reality. More than 1,000 Hamas attackers clad in body armor carrying AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades were storming the festival grounds and nearby kibbutzim. 

They came on trucks, motorcycles, and paragliders. 

They blocked the exit roads and went house to house.

They hunted. They raped. They slaughtered. They kidnapped.

By the time the orgiastic pogrom ended, over 1300 Israelis had been murdered and more than 200 men and women, some US citizens, and children as young as 9 months were kidnapped and taken back into the tunnels under Gaza. For Hamas, these hostages would be used as human shields in the inevitable Israeli retaliation.  

As Israel continues its mission to destroy Hamas’ ability to ever strike Israeli citizens again, the entire Gaza Strip has become a war zone and conditions have deteriorated. As expected, a dozen United Nations agencies have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the Strip. 

But where is the expression of outrage at the crimes Hamas perpetrated? 

Where are the UN resolutions of condemnation?

And where are the calls for immediate humanitarian release of the hostages?

The silence is deafening.

Next Friday as families once again gather for their Shabbat meal, there will be many empty places at the table, too many. 

The captives need to return to their seats. 

They must not be forgotten. 

Am I the enemy?

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