These are trying times. Our community here and in Israel has been struggling with many emotions. The recent tragic murders of the Bibas family has widened the wound of the October 7th massacre. How to deal with this trauma and the concomitant strong feelings is very personal, requiring introspection, contemplation, and self-reflection. This tsunami of emotions is also affecting our children.
I want to share with you and your readership the words penned by a 9th-grade student of HAFTR (who wishes to remain anonymous) who struggles with the same emotions as adults and has found a path toward healing. These words were helpful to me and reflect the words of Malachai HaNavi that in the time preceding the advent of Moshiach, our children will guide us toward the ultimate redemption. I trust your readers will find some solace in these words of simple faith authored by a thoughtful adolescent.—Ahuva Leibtag Gamss
So many emotions are flooding through my mind right now: sadness, anger, fear, disgust, and confusion.
The death of the Bibas babies was announced this morning. Ever since October 7, 2023, the sliver of hope that has held the Jewish nation together during this atrocity is the faith that Hashem would return our children, the Bibas children. Seeing how happy this beautiful family was just months before their brutal kidnapping is gut-wrenching. Like others, the survivor guilt I feel is beyond imaginable. How could such terrible things happen to the chosen nation? Despite all the hardships the Jewish people endured during their history, we always came out stronger on the other end. With this in mind, we should increase our emunah in HaKadosh Baruch Hu that He will bring great salvation.
The thing that brings me peace during these horrifying and depressing times is the knowledge that these beautiful souls are looking down at us from Shamayim, pleading with us not to mourn them, but to celebrate their lives because right now, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas and all of the other deceased hostages are sitting next to Hashem on His throne in a much better place. At the end of the day, this idea is what makes the Jewish nation everlasting.
The Jewish people’s constant love and hope for our brothers and sisters and the reassurance that G-d is on our side will turn out to be the source of Mashiach as we unite to praise G-d for His wonders again and again despite the times of evil. These bad times remind us that there is always faith and connection within the Jewish people and ever since October 7, the pride of the Jewish people has increased more than ever before my young eyes. There will never be enough words to express how I feel about this situation, but all I can continue to do is pray to Hashem for our redemption and that Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir and every other Jew who were murdered on October 7 and the Holocaust be at peace in olam ha’ba with Hashem.
