What can be done...

After many days of processing emotions, yesterday I shared an email with friends and family expressing how I felt regarding the situation in Israel and its ripple effects.

Given the responses from my Jewish friends, it seems as though many of them have had a hard time putting thoughts and feelings into words on paper.

While I originally planned for this to be a private message, I'm posting this here as a way to help others express similar sentiments.

Friends and Family,?

I have tried to write this several times since the horrific events in Israel on Saturday. It's hard to organize thoughts into words, but let's give it a go.?

As you likely know, most of my colleagues live in Israel. Each of us has chosen to work for a media organization with a mission to cover everyday life in Israel outside of war, conflict, and politics — a bright spot in a bleak world.? As of this weekend, we can't continue to do anything as we usually?do.?

The murders on Saturday are the largest number of Jews killed in a single day since the Holocaust. When you compare for population density, this is the equivalent of more than 8 9/11's. Every single one of my colleagues knows at least one person who has died or is still missing.

TO MY NON-JEWISH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

By and large, your Jewish friends are not okay right now.?

I understand that not everyone is an expert on geopolitics, and that there have been decades of framing the Palestinian-Israel conflict as complex and nuanced.?

But this is actually very simple — a terrorist organization, set out to commit genocidal acts on?Jews because that is the solitary goal for their organization.?

To be abundantly clear, Palestinian sovereignty does not mean that innocent Israelis must die. And there is a great deal to debate about Israeli policies towards the treatment of the average Palestinian. But how can anyone move forward when senseless murders are the goal, not statehood?

We are exhausted and afraid. Afraid, not just because of the attacks themselves, but the response around the world.

So-called progressive activists are blaming the victims, finding a way to say that because of bad governance it's somehow justified to rape women, gun down teenagers and elderly, set people on fire, kidnap children and hold them in chicken cages, cut unborn babies out of their mothers bellies, and decapitate babies. AND THEN CELEBRATE THESE ACTS WITH PARADES AND HANDING OUT CANDY. Celebrations in Gaza, in Times Square, and across the world.

I recognize that people need time to process and react in their own way. But please keep in mind, your Jewish friends are terrified by the silence.?

Silence and complacency is how the Holocaust began. 80 years later and somehow it appears that the mass murder of Jews is still acceptable.

I share all of this to say, please check in on your Jewish friends. Make sure they know they're not alone. And please consider speaking up publicly - as dumb as it may sound, visible support on social media means a world of difference to us. We should all be able to shout loudly from the rooftops that we value life and murder is wrong.

TO MY JEWISH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Share your why. Your friends that aren't Jewish probably don't know what to do, how to react, or how they can help.

Community is built over conversation.?

Friendship is built through sharing your vulnerability.?

Allies are activated by asking them to show up when you need them.?

Feel free to use this email as a template, forward it on, or do something entirely unique unto you — but do something.?

With love and gratitude,

Jason