The scene on Saturday afternoon was beyond belief—a different world a mere two hours away.
As we traveled down the road toward the kibbutz, we encountered a grim sight: approximately 60 charred vehicles, I thought of that song about Bab-el-Wad and the haunting skeletal remains along the roadside. now accompanied by an unforgettable smell.
Some of the murdered were covered up.
As we proceeded, the full extent of the horror began to unfold—a level of atrocity not witnessed by this current generation or even the one before it.
What was there, in what was left in the houses, cannot and should not be forgotten.
*
There was no goal keeper in this extraordinary and horrific match.
A bloodthirsty, satanic apparatus mercilessly targeted women and children within a peaceful, tranquil community on a Shabbat morning.
It is not the same as the Yom Kippur War, because the army was not involved. It was a 21st century pogrom, merciless and brutal.
It was unlike the Yom Kippur war, because this wasn’t just an intelligence failure; it was a collapse on multiple fronts.
Even amid the element of surprise and the breach of the first line of defense, there can never be forgiveness for those agonizingly long hours during which Jewish communities were decimated.
This crisis of confidence will leave an enduring mark on us, haunting our collective psyche for years to come.
*
Nevertheless, we must grapple with the situation before us now.
Perhaps precisely because there is a mission that must be carried out. Amid the great danger, we are forced to prioritize the urgent over the essential.
During the quieter moments, we find distractions—changing topics, filling gaps, sharing dark jokes—anything to momentarily shift our focus.
**
People have aged many years this week.
I am privileged to serve with a group of talented individuals, who are also very opinionated. Beyond the age of 30, opinions tend to remain relatively steadfast.
Yet, the impact of this recent trauma is too profound. Something fundamental and primal in the human experience feels fractured.
Previous assumptions that held us are no longer as binding.
Those who had labeled the political opponent a traitor are now reevaluating their positions under the gravity of this situation. long-time leftists are using rhetoric once reserved for the most extreme factions, like the Kahanists.
It’s evident that Israeli society is on the cusp of significant change.
**
And we will win in the end.
That too is clear.
The reason for our ultimate victory lies not in exceptional leadership or unflawed governmental systems, but because of the quality human capital that this country has. Something the enemy will never have.
We will win because of the strong and diverse civil society that has revealed its strength this week. This is a society that remains unwavering in its commitment to righteousness and a shared national ethos. It will go on and get stronger thanks to the disillusioned who will soon join.
Through this, there is hope that we can finally transcend the shallowness, populism, and insular mentality that have plagued many sectors here. In their stead, we anticipate a return to the value of mutual responsibility.