Hugs
When I was a teenager, my Mother of blessed memory and I used to watch Dr. Leo Buscaglia on the Public Broadcasting Network https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhmUeAkP8X8. Mom taught me so much about love. Love for a stranger, love for animals, love for friends, love for children and love for a spouse. I attribute most of my positive attributes to my Mother. She was a real hugger and when we would watch “Leo” as he was known in my home, I remember crying. I was only a young teenager, but my parents were going through a divorce, and his words brought me comfort. I remember thinking how much I wanted to have a lens like his and always see the best in people. Leo said we should love everyone. Hug everyone. He said we need to hug at least four people each day as follows: 5 hugs to survive, 8 hugs to maintain, and 12 hugs to thrive. It sounded like good advice, but in today’s world we have moved away from love. Hugging someone is often considered “inappropriate” as is so much of the physical contact Dr. Buscaglia espoused. Maybe that’s why people are so angry. Maybe they just need more hugs.
On Friday, we gave out hugs. People for Israel, traveled to Sderot. Sderot has taken more missiles than any city in all of Israel since 2005, when Israel left the Gaza Strip. We brought sufganyot (donuts), challahs (bread) and toys to families moving back into their homes. Much of the city is still empty, but we felt it was the time to welcome the brave souls that wanted to go back home – especially during the holiday of Chanukah. We hugged children, we hugged soldiers, we hugged immigrants, we hugged policemen. We hugged grandfathers, we hugged senior citizens, and we hugged one another. Leo would have been really proud. He was Italian, and many people I know compare Jewish culture to Italian culture. It makes me wonder what happens if you are an Italian Jew? Perhaps you overdose on hugs?! Here we were, the SUV parked outside of a shopping center where most of the stores have been closed since October 7th. Bullet holes riddled many of the buildings and smiles were in short supply. We popped the back of the car as if it were a tailgate party at Gillette Stadium and walked up to strangers offering them a Chanukah treat. Many were Jewish, some were Christian, one was a Muslim from the country of Sudan. We offered supplies to all, and our gifts were returned with smiles. “Matana?” someone questioned. It means “gift.” “Of course,” I answered in Hebrew.
On Sunday we went north near the Lebanese border and repeated the same experience with a different group of smiles and a lot more hugs. This was our drive up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIPYw8VVRL8 One woman that spoke to me said, “My family came from France for a wedding. Instead, they attended a funeral. The groom was killed four days before his wedding.” Another told me he had lost two brothers. Some said they had nothing left: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMln5a8xDgo.
When we started People for Israel, the idea was to start an organization that would help families and those in uniform through the war. Many asked, “How is it that the government is not supplying for families in need and men & women in uniform?” Here is just one answer: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-776513?utm_source=jpost.app.android&utm_medium=share. The reality is very few were prepared for this war so on the heels of COVID – with the supply chain already disrupted – critical supplies were in short order. From our perspective, supplying people with clean underwear or clean water to drink is a fairly basic need. As the war drags on into its tenth week, we believe there is a bigger purpose for People for Israel, post battle. I’m not sure I have complete clarity around it, but we’re open to your ideas. There are so many organizations burdened with overhead and bureaucracy. Perhaps a grass roots organization like ours has a bigger purpose and perhaps Isaiah’s vision of being a “light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6) will take on even greater meaning as we defend the Holy Land and welcome all that wish to come in peace. We would love to hear your thoughts especially during Chanukah, a time when a little light goes a long way.
Meanwhile, there is no shortage of work to do. Many I speak to say things must be “under control” now. Far from it. The humanitarian corridor the IDF was pressured to set up is now being used to fire missiles at Israel and……this is where it all gets lost in translation: Life is viewed differently by Hamas and by the fundamentalists in Gaza than it is viewed by the west. So long as they are willing to sacrifice everything – including their lives – it makes this a very difficult battle to fight.
I have been thinking about love and about hate and how the two are inextricably linked. Leo said, “The opposite of love is not hate — it’s apathy. It’s not giving a damn. If somebody hates me, they must ‘feel’ something … or they couldn’t possibly hate. Therefore, there’s some way in which I can get to them.” I am going to try to keep these words in mind during these most difficult days, and I think I will keep on hugging.
Today’s Pictures/Videos:
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David
David at People for Israel
USA: +1.201.801.6440
Israel: +972.52.705.6300
david@peopleforisrael.com
www.peopleforisrael.com
Since October 7, 2023
At People for Israel, we are helping people across the Holy Land. By providing transportation to those in need, helping to enhance security in our most vulnerable communities, providing food and supplies to those in need – we are trying to do our part. When a donation is received, we utilize these funds generally within 24 – 48 hours and respond to requests we have received from across the country. Please consider giving a donation here: https://secure.cardknox.com/peopleforisrael, or asking us to speak to your church, synagogue or civic group allows us to share what is really going on here. Signing up for our journal at www.peopleforisrael.com or liking our new Facebook page is greatly appreciated: https://www.facebook.com/peopleforisraelorganization/show_switched_toast=0&show_invite_to_follow=0&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0&show_community_review_changes=0&show_community_rollback=0&show_follower_visibility_disclosure=0
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