I Can’t Believe It’s Been a Year Since October 7

Today is October 7, 2024, one year since the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. On that day, people in Israel — innocent, unsuspecting people of all ages and many nationalities — were killed, kidnapped, raped, assaulted, and more by the terrorist organization Hamas.

On a Shabbat and on a holiday morning.

In their homes and at a music festival.

It’s unbelievable.

I can’t believe 1,200 people were killed that day.

I can’t believe 251 people were taken hostage that day, and 101 of them remain captive in Gaza today. Not all of them are alive. Two of them are Ariel Bibas and his brother, Kfir Bibas, who turned five years old and one year old, respectively, while in captivity. Unbelievable.

I can’t believe so few people seem to care.

I can’t believe so many people think what happened was justified and/or that Israel was to blame.

I can’t believe anyone would defend or support such brutality and inhuman behavior, and call for more of it.

I can’t believe how much antisemitism there is in the world, and how it’s been allowed to flourish these last 12 months with hardly any blowback, accountability, or consequence.

I can’t believe I post about the war and all the antisemitism and being Jewish and other related subjects nearly every single day on multiple social media platforms and I get so little engagement.

I can’t believe more people haven’t spoken up.

I can’t believe people, communities, and organizations I’ve supported in the past aren’t supporting people like me now.

I can’t believe some of my closest friends before October 7 barely speak to me now, if at all.

I can’t believe the leaders of the world haven’t stood united to demand the release of the hostages and the surrender of Hamas — and the cessation of all the antisemitic rhetoric and violence.

I can’t believe organizations like the Red Cross haven’t helped. They haven’t even checked to make sure the hostages are alright once.

I can’t believe we’re still being attacked.

I can’t believe we’re still defending ourselves.

I can’t believe we’re still at war.

I can’t believe it’s been a year.

And yet, it’s true.

That said, in spite of everything that’s happened these last 12 months, I can believe this: The people of Israel live. We are stronger than ever. I am prouder than ever to be a Jew and a Zionist.

We’re not going anywhere.

Am Yisrael Chai.