Think Again - Day 843

The Gaza War Is Now Over! Ran Gvili Is Home!!

I trust that I still have some of my 29 loyal, faithful, and lovable readers with me. Miri and I have been overseas in the United States for the past four weeks, and I have missed you all.

During this time, Tirtzah gave birth to a baby girl, and we arrived just in time to miss the birth. Little Zehava was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Moish and Tirtzah Ciment-Gestetner, with siblings Amos and Emunah. She arrived ten days early, on the 30th of December. I have now returned to Australia after all the baby excitement.

I should also share that we experienced a double simcha. Our son Mendel, who is nearing the completion of his medical studies at Ben-Gurion University, has proposed and announced his engagement to the beautiful - inside and out - Sheva Lipsker. We have certainly been on a rollercoaster of high, happy, and joyful emotions.

My father always said, “One requires an immense well of koach (energy) and money to celebrate simchas.” I returned home and hit the ground running, plugging the many little holes that inevitably appear after an absence. Meanwhile, Miri is staying on another week in freezing Atlanta to bestow some extra TLC upon both Tirtzah and Zehava.

Our personal joy, however, has been overshadowed by the darkness and trauma that has afflicted the Jewish people worldwide following the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. It was not only Australian Jews who were traumatised, but world Jewry as a whole.

Australia was always perceived as a safe haven, far removed from the politics and angst of the Northern Hemisphere. We were an island continent, seemingly insulated from division, hatred, polarisation, and war. That illusion has been shattered. Australia is no different now. We must face the reality that we too are a terrorist target. We are changed forever. This was our October 7 moment. This was our 9/11.

And yet, we responded. We responded with beautiful, uplifting, and emotional gatherings. We supported the victims. On the eighth night of Chanukah, we lit the menorah at the beach in front of 20,000 people. Rabbi Ulman responded with dignity and stature under unimaginable trauma. We reclaimed the Opera House. We stood firm refusing to be defined by hatred and evil, choosing instead to live bigger, brighter, and better lives.

We responded with light, believing that light will defeat darkness. And we felt the support of our brothers and sisters around the world. They felt Australia’s pain and were shocked for Australia. I felt their love in every community and synagogue I visited while away. I think I went to shule almost every day during my travels.

Still, the reality is that it is not easy to see the light, despite the words. It is not easy to overcome fear, darkness, mourning, and pain. There is no magic solution to heal personal tragedy or national heartbreak. And yet, we will try. We will persevere. We will strive for goodness and graciousness. It is the Jewish way.

We will walk forward with our heads held high, seeking inner resolve and peace. And we will try to grasp those precious moments of happiness that we are blessed to experience and share.

It is for this reason that I shared our personal simchas with you so that you too might glimpse the other side: the side where happiness still exists. A simcha shared is a simcha doubled. Pain shared is pain halved.

And now, I share our immense and universal simcha, the joy of all of Am Yisrael. The war in Gaza is over! The last hostage has been found. Ran Gvili is home.

His body has been returned for burial in the soil of Israel. We can now grieve together. We can cry together. We can mourn and honour the lives of so many who fought in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond.

The soldiers of the IDF are heroes - soldiers with heart, courage, and humanity. They have witnessed death and devastation. They are the protectors of world Jewry. The past two years have reminded us of a painful truth: we have nowhere else to go. We have no choice but to fight for our homeland. The cost of peace is high.

Day 843 in Gaza - The War Is Over

This is the final time I will write about the Gaza War. It has officially ended. Our readiness and vigilance, however, must continue. Israel does not have the luxury of living in a friendly neighbourhood.

This war was not a victory. The price was too high. How October 7 occurred remains a mystery. My prayer is that the Jewish people emerge from this period with unity and solidarity.

Am Yisrael Chai.

• The body of Ran Gvili was found and returned for burial in Israel

• Phase Two of the peace agreement can now begin. The Rafah crossing with Egypt will reopen, overseen by a European mission, with Israel monitoring remotely.

The war is over.

The pain remains.

The responsibility continues.

As always, L’chaim.

See you in shule.

Shabbat Shalom.

THEY ARE ALL HOME.

Elozer Gestetner