“Imagine” a world without conflict
A letter from Lynn A, in Israel, November 14, 2023
Dear Friends & Family
I asked myself how to update you. As my good friend reminded me, we each are only just one person with our own perspective in a world of viewpoints that oftentimes conflict. The ongoing conflict is constantly described in various forums we are all exposed to, whether on the front pages of newspapers, sites, chats, whatsapps, video shares. Seems like it is nearly impossible to escape everyone else’s perspective (whether you’d like to hear it or not). And they are all so smugly certain! A vast number of experts in all areas so generously offer their viewpoints and advise: geopolitical experts, political analyses, university professors, international lawyers, army generals, psycho-analyists, rabbis, other countries’ leaders, parliaments, and the list goes on and on.
And its quite personal now. Street chit chat, schul exchanges, friendships and partnerships, business and daily lives focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and anti semitisim ad infinitum. Everyone holds at least one opinion, if not more. Many are absolutely certain what the single solution is. Two states! One State! Peace! War! Get the Hostages! There are no hostages! Israel is to blame?? Hamas is to blame?? Netanyahu? Is this a modern version of familiar anti semitism rearing its head.
Some of the folks in my life preserve sanity by pulling inwards – filtering what they read and hear, who they speak with and what they spend their time on. Others have flung open their doors and hearts and pocketbooks and thrown themselves bodily into the chaos trying to glue together broken up pieces they encounter along the rocky way. Some say – first and foremost, preserve yourself and your family. Others put home on the backburner, channelling energy to be effective influencers on the decision makers. Some suffer more acutely than others, some are ignited with the fire of conviction and some are downright depressed.
And sometimes all you want to do is put your head down on the pillow and relax and dream of a John Lennon “Imagine” world without conflict, pain or destruction.
I think that most, like me, are pushing their personal limits to meet the challenge of external threat and fear with courage and intuition. This week I organized a Magen David first aid and responder course for 15 English speakers to be better prepared for emergency situations. Jitzchak and I continue to volunteer for the agricultural sector in the evacuated southern moshavim at least one full day a week, so we have picked lettuce, tomatoes, and culled olives. Last week it was at a farmer’s hothouses who was shot by Hamas on October 7 trying to protect his family and friends at home to keep them out of his village, and left behind a wife and 3 kids. His tomatoes will rot as will this year’s finances if the tomatoes are not picked now. We continue to try to fill in the vacuum left behind by absent reservists and to concentrate on the needs of the evacuees. Our son remains drafted, but happily had an opportunity to be home for a single day to see his young children after 5 weeks in the field.
So I have no personal complaints; we are fine. Many have suffered or are suffering terribly and I try to hold their hand in the darkness if I can. None of us can see the light at the end of this tunnel yet, but believe that it’s there. So, I don’t know exactly how to update you, as I said, except to say we are managing the best we can, and I am very, very grateful for what we have.
Love
Lynn A
Lynn A and husband Yitzchak are Israelis who visited Bethlehem last summer who immersed themselves in the BHC community. Lynn is a lifelong friend of board member Debbie Simon.
Since the Hamas attacks on Israel, Lynn has been sending regular letters to American friends and family with her take on what’s happening. She has kindly allowed us to reprint her letter here.
“Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one”