Before October 7th I was Jewish

Before October 7th, 2023 I was Jewish, now I’m every Israeli Jew. Before October 7th I was a Native American Jew, now I’m an indigenous Judean Jew. Before October 7th I viewed Israel as our Holy land, for Jews and Christians, now Israel is our only land.

I remember October 7th, 2023 quite well. The reason I remember this day so well is because I had coffee with my daughter’s boyfriend’s mother for the first time. We talked about having coffee for months and finally made it happen. We sat outside Starbucks on a beautiful fall day.

Since my daughter’s boyfriend is Catholic and his dad has Jewish roots, his mother told me she had questions about Judaism. I remember talking about Judaism, to me, being all about G-d and light. I discussed different times in my life G-d showed His presence to me and I had no doubts. But there was also another topic I made clear that day. There is evil in this world.

I specifically remember looking Brooke in the eyes and telling her there is evil in this world. I hadn’t heard any of the horrific tragedies that had taken place in Israel yet. For some reason, my instincts brought me to think of times of evil. Times when my energy knew there was an evil, dark presence and to stay with light.

Later that evening, I saw a flash on my phone about 10/7 in Israel. I quickly opened my phone to see what it was and that’s when my life changed forever… or when our lives changed forever. I didn’t stop watching the news. I weeped and weeped. I watched the television stunned with grief and anger.

Earlier that year, in February 2023, my first and only Jewish love passed away. I was still grieving him. He was also a really good friend I grew up with and I always felt so safe around him. The world was already a new place knowing he was no longer here. Once I began seeing antisemitism and photos of dear Israeli brothers and sisters, I knew I could not let our Jewish connection and his memory be tainted by false Jew haters.

Before October 7th, I rarely posted about being Jewish. I wasn’t around my Jewish friends in the place I’ve been living. I was Jewish in my heart with Hanukkah celebrations, occasionally attending temple, wearing my Magen David sometimes.

October 7th absolutely shattered me. For weeks I laid weeping, wishing I could reach families and comfort them. My wounded heart felt attached to my Jewish love I was still mourning, Jews, victims, and making sure everyone knew the truth about Jews and Israel, I could not stop posting and sharing. Watching the world in complete disgust as they blindly supported terrorism.

Before October 7th, I wasn’t attached to being Jewish, being Jewish was just what I knew. Now being Jewish is who I am and I’ve further connected myself. October 7th showed me how misunderstood Jews are and especially Israelis. Some see me and ask about my Star of David. It saddens me people notice it and don’t look at it as easily as they look at a cross. October 7th showed me people tolerant to those dressed in a Hijab, or with pink hair, yet are so taken back by a symbol of faith and light. I guess being a good person is a threat to some.

Before and after October 7th trying to extinguish one star in the universe didn’t extinguish all the stars, and that is still true today. Trying to extinguish one star merely lights a star somewhere else and a star blinks brighter.

Elizabeth M. Younger