The Israeli government has declared a national day of remembrance on October 7, but most artists invited to participate in the official state ceremony have either not responded or are avoiding involvement in the conflict between the state’s memorial service and the alternative memorial service organized by the victims’ families. If there are multiple memorials held in the country on October 7, then Israel will truly demonstrate disunity in response to the attack that occurred almost a year ago. In the first weeks of the war, there was a palpable sense of brotherly unity among the people, but that unity has seemingly vanished. Months ago, I wrote that even a death toll of 1,500 is not enough to unite the nation. The people are crying out, and no one is listening to the other.
The families of the victims of the October 7 massacre announced over a week ago that they would be holding an independent memorial service on the anniversary of the massacre and would not participate in the government-planned ceremony. Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev was tasked with organizing the...
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Quote: “Everyone cries about it, everyone debates it, and yet no one does anything to bring the people together.”
With a heavy heart I read Isaiah 42:22-23, “But this is a people robbed and plundered; all of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses; they are for prey, and no one delivers; for plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore!’ ”
Then, with renewed strength, I read Hebrews 10:19-25, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us..and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Scripture from NKJV)