Praying for Life

I am praying for life.

Since the moment that Hamas attacked Israel I have been praying… terrified of the predictable ways this act of terror would turn into a catastrophic war. I remain terrified, knowing that this can continue to get worse.

As a therapist, I know that arguments escalate quickly. And without a time out, they rarely end well. Never, in all my years as a therapist, or a mediator, did I ever see an argument get won by focusing on who started it. And yet, right now, this is where we are collectively stuck.

It takes a moment of compassion to see beyond one’s emotional reaction to discern a human on the other side of the fight. This requires the ability to pause, breathe, and rise above the conflict, in order to remember something that can serve as a connecting bridge from the moment of conflict to a larger shared value or goal.

As a rabbi, I believe that faith, hope, compassion are some of the seeds of peace and healing. I have dedicated my life to planting these seeds wherever I can.

And so, on Sunday, I stood at a rally to advocate for human life. I was deeply touched by the people I met, the tears that were shed, the embraces and the promises to meet together and work on some interfaith dialogue opportunities that do not yet exist where I live, but that I pray may become the blossoms of the seeds planted that day.

Many diverse voices gathered together to affirm our faith that human life matters and that a ceasefire is necessary for all parties to pause, breathe, get a timeout and be able to begin to negotiate in a way that can hopefully lead to a true and lasting peace for all parties.

Amongst the many voices shared, Amber Tapley, a local birth doula, shared a reflection that she had written. As my mind is unable to erase the visuals of the premature babies in Gazan hospitals, and the desperate pleas of doctors begging for help, I found myself tearful, thinking about the real implications of this war for every human that is trapped in this small piece of land that is called both Israel and Palestine and that is serving as the scapegoat for colonial governments across the planet, so that they can ensure that their military and “strategic” goals are preserved, even if it is at the expense of human life.

This war is so very tragic and terrifying. And it is easy to want to not think about it or to only focus on the sides that we were taught to think about or with whom we share an affinity. But, denial does not lead to good things. Right now, our collective humanity is at stake: if we fail to show compassion for the innocent humans whose lives are at risk, the future of our planet is very grim indeed.

I am therefore praying for life… for all lives… I am praying for a ceasefire, as a necessary step for the foundations of a healthy negotiation for a true and lasting peace to hopefully soon be able to begin. Just like in any argument, it is important to take step back and breathe, reflect, and come back to try to talk things through… so too do I believe that no effective negotiation is possible in the midst of this desperate situation. I am praying for compassion to grow in the hearts of all humans… for all humans…

And as part of my prayer, I want to share Amber’s powerful words that she read on Sunday, with the hopes that it may inspire more people to see beyond their fear, and to recognize the real life implications of what is happening right now… not only for all the people who are being killed, and all the people who are surviving, but with lifelong PTSD as a result, but also for all the babies that have been born or will be born in the midst of this unconscionable war… and all those that have died or are dying right now as I type this.

Amber’s reflection that she shared Sunday:

“In Gaza, there are currently over 55, 000 pregnant people.

Approximately 5, 500 are due to give birth in the next month.

I know the sounds and the smells of the room as a person brings new life into this world.

The moans and the roars and the screams as our babies arrive.

I know the power and intensity. The fear and the joy and the pain and the triumph.

I bear witness to the overwhelming sensations of a body working and a baby coming and the immense amount of trust and surrender required to move through that experience.

In a safe environment.

One with doctors and nurses, with clean supplies and clean blankets to wrap the babies.

When we give birth, we have time to rest, time to heal.

Food to eat, clean water to drink.

Medical staff to attend to both us and our newborns.

People are being forced to walk for hours immediately after giving birth.

There is no space for them to stay and rest.

The rates of miscarriages has tripled.

The rates of premature labour has gone up.

Placental abruptions due to trauma and injury are on the rise.

Every day more than 160 people are giving birth.

If they can get to a hospital, it is possible that there will be no capacity, or no electricity, or no clean water, or no medical supplies.

There are stories of Cesarean births happening without pain relief, lights or sterile equipment.

Birthing people, babies and children need food.

They need clean water.

They need access to medical supplies.

They need access to functioning hospitals.

They need us to continue to use our voices to call for an immediate Cease Fire NOW!”

May the world awaken soon and speedily…