Interdependence: Love for All Life
The attack in Colorado occurred right before Shavuot.
I found out about it after the holiday started.
Since it was already the holiday, I couldn’t contact many of my family and friends since they do not use their phones on Shabbat or holidays. (They do on Memorial Day, etc., I mean Jewish holidays ;) )
Anyway, it was really hard.
Already I miss my friends cuz single motherhood is lonely.
Then you have this attack and it just makes me want to reach out more.
But I can’t.
Anyway, this is not supposed to be some sob story about me.
My blog is called, “Small Steps, Deep Breaths,” not “Gila’s Sob Story.”
It is really horrific what happened in Colorado.
And the fact that I couldn’t be in solidarity with many of my friends over the holiday made it even more painful.
Ever since October 7th, I’ve felt like anyone who treasures human life is my friend.
I know many people believe there is too much death in Gaza. I know that Hamas needing to be destroyed is a response that does not allay everyone’s concerns.
I also know that Judaism at its root cherishes life. It freaking loves life. It gives mitzvot, commandments, to create mindfulness and take life in more richly and vividly.
I don’t care what kind of Jew you are. I don’t care if you are even a Jew at all. If you value Jewish life, you are my friend. If you value any life as a magical journey of existence, you are my friend.
Something else I’ve realized in recent years is that someone can observe fewer Jewish halachot (laws) and that doesn’t take away their core love of Judaism. And they are still just as Jewish as before.
It’s not how much you do or don’t do.
If one feels threatened by someone’s lack of religiosity, one can introspect on why that is, and set up the appropriate boundaries with that person.
But a Jew at heart is a Jew.
And so, in our hearts, we can work on making space for unconditionally loving all Jews.
It doesn’t mean we are close with all of them.
We don’t have to be best friends.
Or even friends.
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