6 Hard Lessons Jewish People Learned Since October 7

Article by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin: What released hostage Sapir Cohen heard from a Hamas terrorist, and what the protests on U.S. campuses taught American Jews.

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

In today’s globalized world, conflicts can quickly cross borders, but few have held public attention as intensely as the Hamas massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023. The aftermath sparked rallies supporting terror, calls for the genocide of Jews, and violent harassment of Jewish students.

The months since have been marked by pain, war, and a surge in antisemitism, especially in the U.S. But it has also been a time of unity, hope, and resilience worthy of reflection as we enter a new Jewish year.

Here are six hard lessons the Jewish people have learned this past year.

1. We learned that we do not exist without sacrifice.

In the years before October 7, the People of Israel were lulled into a sense of safety. It had been decades since the last existential threat, and normalization was proceeding well with neighboring Arab countries.

But this past year, we got a tragic reminder that our existence should not be taken for granted—and that not everyone will acknowledge our very right to exist. We are truly a miracle—yet we must still fight to live.

2. We learned who our true friends are.

In moments of crisis, people’s true colors emerge—sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The Jewish community has seen both sides of this. We’ve lost friends and co-workers, but we’ve also gained new ones.

Our family had to find a new doctor for our child after the one we trusted posted something horrifyingly antisemitic, reminiscent of the medieval blood libels against Jews. Yet, I’ve also experienced the kindness of total strangers—a Hispanic driver, a postal worker, a deputy sheriff, and a young mother—who stopped in the street to express solidarity with the Jewish people during these threatening times.

3. We learned how important unity can be.

In the year leading up to October 7, Israel was deeply divided over judicial reforms, a debate that even some American Jews engaged in. But after the attack, Israelis united. The rise of hate in the U.S. also prompted American Jews to come together.

Sapir Cohen experienced this firsthand during her 55 days in Hamas captivity. One day, the terrorists summoned her to watch TV. Seeing thousands rallying in Tel Aviv to free the hostages, one of the captors remarked, “When the Jews are united, they are strong.”

4. We learned to live with pain.

For nearly a year, more than 100 of our Jewish brothers and sisters have languished in captivity. The pain hasn’t gone away, but we’ve learned to live with it. Israel is engaged in the longest-lasting war in its history, and each day brings new sorrow.

When we got the news that Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages had been brutally murdered in cold blood by their terrorist captors, the impact was like a thunderbolt. Our community was in mourning as if they had lost a family member. In a sense, we had.

5. We learned that a diploma doesn’t make someone a mensch.

This past spring, encampments sprang up on campuses across the country. Their goal was to demonize Israel and, often, to demonize the Jewish people with nonfactual claims and theories.

Some academics roundly condemned the disgusting bigotry. Others, however, supported it tacitly or openly by discriminating against Jewish students and faculty. This year, we discovered that all the degrees in the world don’t make you a mensch.

6. We learned that we can do more.

At the end of the year, Jews have a tradition of introspection, both personally and collectively. We reflect on areas for improvement and often take pride in our accomplishments. Since October 7, there has been a surge of Jewish activity—not through tormenting or vilifying others, but by strengthening our identity and community. It’s as if we’ve found a new gear. We are giving more, praying more, connecting more, and doing more, discovering the depth of our potential.

Our nation endured the deadliest attack since the Holocaust, and in doing so, we’ve learned much—about ourselves and those around us. May the coming year bring only peace and good tidings. Amen.

– Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, Editor of COLlive.com and COLlive Magazine, is the outreach director of Chabad Tucson, and Associate Rabbi of Cong. Young Israel of Tucson, Arizona. He coordinates the annual Yarchei Kallah gathering of Chabad Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva

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