Mercy Pity Hope
Since 1948 when the State of Israel was established, there have been five wars between Hamas and Israel, too many horrific acts of terrorism to count, lawless guerrilla warfare, and never-ending conflict. For most people living in Israel, Palestine and, very specifically, the Gaza Strip — the most highly contested real estate on the planet — peace and security are elusive. They have lived their entire lives, neither feeling entirely safe in their own homes, nor having ever lived through an extended period of peace. Despite such a deadly, destructive and catastrophic history, this time feels different — drastically different.
A child dies every quarter of an hour in the Israeli/Hamas war.
Death has climbed in through our windows
and has entered our fortresses;
it has removed the children from the streets
and the young men from the public squares.”**
[Jeremiah]
Jeremiah was a Major Prophet who is studied, respected, and quoted by Jewish, Islamic and Christian clerics alike. I imagine that since 7th October, his words are being offered as a lamentation in mosques and synagogues throughout the Middle East. A somber commonality.
Not being Jewish or Palestinian, I cannot pretend to feel the same depth of emotion and fervour those folks feel - about their land, their language, their culture and — the crux of the matter — their religions. Their saga has unfolded half a world away but, thanks to all media and to those Canadian immigrants who’ve kindly shared their stories, fears and sadness, the anguish and torment of the Middle East are palpable here in Ontario.
Watching one tiny body bag after another being carried from the annihilation in Israel and the Gaza Strip has cut me to the very marrow. Every night watching the news I feel gutted. All life is precious and finite, but the massacre of children in their kibbutz homes and armageddon at the Al-Ahli Hospital are overwhelmingly soul-wrenching. Childhood innocence stolen by hatred. The promise embodied in those wee souls forever unfulfilled. It’s so much worse than heart-breaking.
Yet in the midst of this violent, inhuman battle, one that caused intense tribal polarisation, the most profoundly beautiful collaboration occurred. The “Prayer of Mothers for Life and Peace” was written by two Israeli women — Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum and Sheikha Ibtisam Mahamid:
For our children crying at nights,
For parents holding their children with despair and darkness in their hearts…
And with the tears of all women who deeply feel the pain of these difficult days,
I raise my hands to you, please God have mercy on us.*
Nothing justifies the killing, wounding or kidnapping of children.
Children are always the first to suffer in times of war. The UN, international organisations that work to protect children’s rights, international aid workers, Red Cross/Red Crescent, UNICEF and many others are begging Hamas and Israel to remember that children are innocent victims upon whom the greatest pain and suffering has been inflicted.
Hundreds of thousands of children have already been impacted by the war in Gaza and urgently need care, protection and relief, especially food and clean drinking water. A safe, consistent, humanitarian corridor is desperately needed but the safety and nourishment of children is notably missing from the comments of world leaders.
Deplorably, children are paying the heaviest price for this bloody war, many with their own lives. The world needs to pay attention. The children need mercy, pity and hope.
Hear our voice that we shall not despair
That we shall see life in each other,
That we shall have mercy for each other,
That we shall have pity on each other,
That we shall hope for each other.*
’Til next time, y’all…
*Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum and Sheikha Ibtisam Mahamid - full text below.
**Book of Jeremiah, 9:21, Holy Bible (NIV), page 1100.
God of Life
Who heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds
May it be your will to hear the prayer of mothers
For you did not create us to kill each other
Nor to live in fear, anger or hatred in your world
But rather you have created us so we can grant permission to one another to sanctify
Your name of Life, your name of Peace in this world.
For these things I weep, my eye, my eye runs down with water
For our children crying at nights,
For parents holding their children with despair and darkness in their hearts
For a gate that is closing, and who will open it before the day has ended?
And with my tears and prayers which I pray
And with the tears of all women who deeply feel the pain of these difficult days
I raise my hands to you please God have mercy on us
Hear our voice that we shall not despair
That we shall see life in each other,
That we shall have mercy for each other,
That we shall have pity on each other,
That we shall hope for each other
And we shall write our lives in the book of Life
For your sake God of Life
Let us choose Life.
For you are Peace, your world is Peace and all that is yours is Peace,
And so shall be your will and let us say
Amen.