During these High Holy Days, it is hard not to think back to this time last year on the Jewish calendar. I was busy preparing for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, planning to spend time in synagogue and with family, reflecting on the previous year, and looking with optimism at the new year ahead of us. I am not typically one to delve deeply into prayer, but the Yamim Noraim, these High Holy Days, have always been a time for me where I envision the gates to heaven open wide, and I take to heart the prayers we say during these special days.
The U’Netaneh Tokef, the most solemn of prayers during the High Holy Day services, resonates strongly with me each year. Even the angels are trembling on this Day of Judgement as we ask, “Who shall live and who shall die…who by fire…who by the sword…who by strangulation….” Who could have imagined how terribly and vividly real this prayer would become for us just a few short days after saying these prayers?
This past year was a rollercoaster of emotions, and the rollercoaster hasn’t yet stopped. I am filled with grief and anguish over all those whose lives ended far too soon, in circumstances far too grim. I am filled with fear and horror that hostages are in captivity, one of them being my cousin, Omer Neutra, who has remained in captivity since Oct. 7.
I have four siblings living in Israel, with two brothers-in-law and several nieces and nephews serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—one was just called up again to serve in the north due to the recent escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border. I have many friends with family members serving, and my best friend from childhood buried her 21-year-old son, Binyamin Airley, who was killed in battle last November.
As part of the Jewish people, we value the unique spark every person brings to this world, and it is staggering to see such a lack of caring for human life by the perpetrators. How do we gather ourselves to continue in the face of such life-shattering events? We have no choice but to go on. And, indeed, Orna and Ronen, Omer’s parents, have asked everyone to do what we can to continue raising awareness about the hostages and to talk about who their son is. So, I’ll share a little bit about my 22-year-old cousin, Omer.
As a son of dual citizens of Israel and the United States, Omer grew up loving both of his homelands, in America and the land of Israel, with a passion. Omer is fun-loving, a huge sports fan, and always found himself in leadership roles. In high school, he was the captain of the basketball team, the soccer team, and the volleyball team. He was also the regional president of his Jewish youth group.
After graduating high school, Omer decided to defer his college acceptance to Binghamton University and spend a gap year in Israel connecting with his family’s roots. This experience impacted his decision to stay in Israel and do what he believed in—serving and protecting the people of Israel. He went through intensive training in the IDF and was serving as a tank commander protecting the border of Israel. This is what he was doing on that black Shabbat morning, Simchat Torah, Oct. 7, 2023, on the border of Gaza, when Hamas abducted him. Since Omer was taken hostage, his family has heard nothing about his condition.
As we mark one year since Oct. 7, 2023, during these High Holy Days, I ask myself: How can I keep praying, staying strong, and holding onto hope? I remind myself that we are a people of hope. We have hoped for over 2,000 years, and we can’t stop hoping now.
We proclaim at the end of the U’Netaneh Tokef prayer, “Teshuva [repentance], Tefillah [prayer], Tzedakah [charity] will overturn the evil decree.” In my work at the helm of Gateways, in my volunteerism for the community, in my advocacy for Omer and the hostages, I am trying to do my small part to ensure that Jews can hold our heads up proudly and safely wherever we are in this world.
As we continue to move through these very emotional and holiest of days and ask to be written in the Book of Life, I am praying for this year to bring the return of Omer and the remaining hostages, the safety of my family and all who are serving in the IDF, comfort to those who have suffered indescribable loss, and a renewed sense of strength and unity for all of Am Yisrael (the people of Israel).
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