7 October 2023 Book I: Jewish Reflections from Around the Globe
7 October 2023 Book I
Jewish Reflections from Around the
Globe offers a glimpse into some of the many perspectives on
the horrors of Hamas’ 7 October massacre in Israel and events
in Israel, Gaza, and Palestine since.
This book is intended to reflect an historical moment
of “the year of” 7 October 2023. The contributors in this book
were drafting their pieces between 7 October 2023 and May
2024. We hope that this book will be helpful to people—
including ordinary and suffering people, scholars,
peacemakers, policy influencers, haters, empathizers, and all
combinations of people—as the “now-ish” timing of the first
six months after 7 October 2023 passes and particularly as
more people, groups, institutes, movements, and governments
claim that they have correctly assessed the period.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction Page 1
Acknowledgments Page 6
I Can’t Write Page 7
Anonymous
An International Conversation: Indonesia, Nicaragua, Page 8
Madagascar, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya,
Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, US, Canada,
and Israel
Speechless: A Sermon on Parshat Bo Page 27
Dianne Cohler-Esses
Sudanese Refugee Camp: Ethiopian Jewish Displacement Page 38
Kes Adane Mekonen & a Woman Community Member
History Stops for No One: During the First Year After Page 51
7 October, 19 April 2024
Irena Klepfisz
Rabbi Capers Funnye: Reflections Page 61
Capers Funnye
The All-But-Invisible Page 69
Mira Rivera
The Day After Page 75
Beth Martin
An Open Letter to My Friends Who Signed “Philosophy Page 78
for Palestine,” 4 November 2023
Seyla Benhabib
No Guilt Page 87
Ronnie Ben-Aron
Calaniot (Poppies) Page 91
Melody Meisel Klein
Ethiopian Jewish Advocacy: Letter of Support Page 93
from the Jewish Community in Addis Ababa
to the Israeli Embassy
Comforting and Grief: Lessons from a War Page 94
Frimet Roth
In Memorial: From Campus to Kibbutz,
Vivian Silver’s Legacy Page 102
Gila Axelrod
Skipping Shul this Shabbat Page 113
Yesoschar Katz
Rude Awakening Page 115
Judith Margolis
Ghanaian Jewish Advocacy:
Message and Letter to the Israeli Consulate
Shomrei N’gi’ah-Do Not Touch Page 119
Sonja Pilz
Iraqi Farhud Survivor: I Survived a Pogrom in Iraq
82 Years Ago Page 125
Joseph Samuels
Toffee Migrations: Feminism in Times of Crisis 130
Robin Hackett
Jewish Pakistanis Respond Page 138
Curated by Z Karachi, Pakistan
What’s an Editor to Do? Page 157
Clare Kinberg
Federation des Juifs Noir: A French Jewish Response I Page 174
Guershon Nduwa
AmIFarafina: A French Jewish Response II Page 178
Hortense Tsiporah Bilé
I am Not a Politician: Return & Reconciliation Page 180
Aliza Arzt
Blog Posts Page 184
Joelle Novey
Who Would Have Thunk It? Page 195
Bonita Nathan Sussman
Côte d’Ivoire Documents Page 198
The Impact of 7 October 2023 on the Danite Community
of Côte d’Ivoire Page 199
Paul Mette
Declaration of Support for Israel from the Jewish
Communities of Côte D’Ivoire, 1 November 2023 Page 210
Reply from the Israeli Ambassador in Abidjan to Juifs
CIV Pour Israel Regarding 7 October Support Page 214
Rony Yedidia Clein
If Not With Others…How? Page 215
Denni Liebowitz
Dawn of a New Era Page 217
Gerald Sussman
A Jewish American Says “Not in My Name!” Page 222
Penny Rosenwasser
Refusing to Give a “Word:” On the Liturgical Absence of
an Afro-Palestinian Rabbi Page 230
Walter Isaac
Fifteen Ways I’m Angry, 7 October 2023-April 2024 Page 238
Debra Cash
Forgotten Historical Parallel and Ideological Precursors Page 243
Jason Guberman-P
Antisemitism in Paradise Page 253
Viva Hammer
From My Journal Page 263
Deborah Greniman
Who's the Fool who Told you Boys Don't Cry? Personal
Reflections on 7 October Page 270
David Breakstone
How I Learned to Listen to the Other Side: A Personal
Reflection on the Israel/Palestine Conflict Page 275
Sarah Silberstein Swartz
Appendix: Call for Papers Page 284
About the Editors Page 291
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