I love attending protests; I have been doing it for many years. But what I experienced yesterday in Tel Aviv deserves a special mention. This Sunday marked one hundred days since the greatest atrocity that Israel faced: October 7th. 7O. To commemorate the round day, up to 120,000 Israelis crowded the already famous Hostages Square and the adjacent street. They cried, and even God shed tears.
Whether we believe in the conventional God or another, it is fair to say that there was some divinity present in the sky of Tel Aviv yesterday. It's a city in the heart of the Middle East, with a desert climate, but it rained intensely.
The sky wept, people cried, Tel Aviv cried. And Tel Aviv came to a standstill. This time, the demonstration lasted for 24 hours and concluded with a very special ceremony. On a stage, individuals with much to say took turns: previously abducted and now liberated, relatives of the abducted, public figures, politicians, and a singer cherished by these lands.
The two politicians were the head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, and the president of the nation, Isaac Herzog. The former was unequivocal: "Israel is not doing enough to bring back the abducted because they are not yet home." However, he added, "I told the Prime Minister that the opposition supports him."
Meanwhile, Herzog addressed the international community: "It's not just our battle; it's a battle for the entire world. Stand on the side of life and freedom against barbarism and hatred. Support freedom and democracy, back our hostages, and help bring them back home."
People interrupted their speeches several times to exclaim "achshav" (now), indicating that no one can wait a minute longer for the return of the abducted. It is a battle of the people.
One of the speeches by relatives of the abducted mentioned baby Kfir Bibas, who is held captive without even reaching the first year on this curious planet. As a finale, Israeli singer Omer Adam performed, beloved by many. People sang along with him, concluding with the national anthem, Hatikva.
After this, while volunteers distributed sandwiches made with challah bread, I spoke with some people. I asked them to send a message to the abducted, reassuring them that communication is possible, and another to Jews in the diaspora, and why not, to non-Jews.
Sigal, a mother from the municipality of Hod HaSharon (half an hour away), recalled, "I have no family in Gaza, no connections with the abducted. But the entire country is supporting the families, helping them return home."
"The whole country is thinking of them. We are all working hard and doing what we can. We are not the decision-makers. We are the people. And the people want them back. We are all working hard, both soldiers and civilians... we want them, and we wish them to maintain their health and strength because we want them to return with us," she added.
In front of a wall with posters of the abducted and writing dedications, I found Lia and Avigail, two young Girl Scouts from Petah Tikva. "We are waiting for them. Our hearts are broken for them. It's hard to think of them, every day they are there, and we are here, living normally," said Lia. "We want them to stay strong. We are all waiting and praying for them," added Avigail.
I also met an Argentine man who has lived through several wars. In fact, he immigrated to Israel in 1967, the year of the Six-Day War. Alberto, from Buenos Aires, assured, "Israel and the Jewish people are doing everything possible for them to return home safe and sound. There are political problems, but they will be overcome."
"What you have to do is stay strong and try to see how the days pass. Draw strength from where it doesn't exist. Know that, in the end, everyone will return here. We will meet again," he added.
Messages to Jews in the Diaspora
Next, the interviewees addressed a much broader audience: Jews living in the diaspora, experiencing this conflict and war in unique ways.
Sigal advocated for her country: "It's the only Jewish country. It's a very small country. And we need to be united and support each other. They are terrorists. They don't seek peace. We do. We want to live and thrive, work and do good. The Jewish people have contributed a lot to the world. So, we must be united, both in the diaspora and in Israel. We must stay together for the unity and well-being of Israel and all its civilians."
Meanwhile, Avigail urged all Jews in the diaspora to "keep supporting us; it really boosts our spirits. Don't fall for rumors that say we are bad." Lia warned that external support "makes us feel better and stronger. It's nice to see that they support us," amidst the multitude of simultaneous pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli messages on social media.
Alberto made it clear that "to the Jews in the diaspora, from all countries, I say that we, in Israel, care for all of them. We are all united. And I want them to know that, in the end, the Jewish people will always overcome. It existed for 2,000 years, and although there were ups and downs, the Jewish people always prevailed."
"This was thanks to cooperation, unity, and the community of the entire people, in all countries of the world. We love them, and I want them to remember that we can overcome this. Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel always live and will live for ages to come," he concluded.
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