What it is about
The piece dives into the tangible and immediate reality of living amid conflict in Israel, emphasizing the disconnect between distant theorizing and on-the-ground experiences.
Why it matters
This perspective is crucial for understanding the emotional and practical weight carried by those directly affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel. It stresses the need for empathy, deeper context, and a rejection of oversimplified solutions to incredibly intricate issues.
The Israeli Perspective up Close
Hundreds of miles away, letters and petitions float about, penned by individuals untouched by the direct impacts of war. Despite their caring intentions, distance contributes to a dilution of understanding and empathy toward those actually in the midst of the current conflict. For Israelis, the reality is undeniably different; this isn’t a theoretical debate—it’s a daily life filled with uncertainty.
Personal Stories, National Struggles
In Israel, families reckon with the personal costs of war every day. Mothers embrace the memories of their sons’ youth while smoothing the uniforms they’ll need for another tour. Soldiers strive to reconnect with their sense of identity lost amid chaos. What many from afar might see as another news headline is, for Israelis, another empty chair around the Shabbat table.
A Call for Closer Connection
To truly support Israel and fully grasp its challenges, one must set aside the American Beatles’ idealistic dreams of a borderless world. Israelis face the reality of an existence that is punctuated by history and predicated on persistence. Ignoring this narrative minimizes the struggles vital to their national story and survival.
Understanding Through Shared Experience
In Israeli culture and Jewish teachings, experiential understanding and proximity are emphasized over theoretical neutrality. The importance of sharing souls is at the heart of responding to conflict with empathy rather than detachment. Through forging closer connections, rather than observing from afar, supporters of Israel are better positioned to bolster and relate to the struggles therein.
This story was first published on jpost.com.