A Story of Humanity: Chanukah for Ceasefire
I am not Jewish, but on December 7th I attended Chanukah for Ceasefire, an event hosted by Rabbis4Ceasefire in New York City.
It was an incredibly beautiful and poignant gathering. I learned so much about the Jewish faith and traditions. They had speakers to honor intentions and teachings for each night of Chanukah, all of which spoke to the need for peace, safety and freedom for both Palestinians and Israelis, for Jews and Muslims, for ALL people on this earth.
In addition to the event itself being beautiful, powerful and needed, I was also blessed to meet and connect with incredible humans. And as per all wonderful meetings, it felt divinely guided.
You see, I had a plan. My plan was to meet up with a group of people from SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) and I had a specific route that was going to get me to our meetup spot right on time. But, I was a little out of it and when I looked up from my phone the train doors were closing at my ideal transfer station. Rather than double back I decided to keep going and take a new (slightly longer) route. As a result I also messaged the group and said I was running late and would either find them or not!
I switched trains at my new transfer station and I saw 3 women, two of them older wearing black clothes and black hats and one younger wearing lighter colors, a hijab and a face mask. They were carrying ceasefire signs and a Palestinian flag so I figured they must be going to the same event and I told them, “I’m going with you!”
They were so excited and I’m not sure if they assumed I was Jewish because they then said, “Okay, great, we’ll follow you!” I let them know that I had no idea where I was going but yes, we could all go together!
Along the way, one of the older women, Irene, started to tell me that her Palestinian son dated a Swedish woman that looked a lot like me. I told her I do, indeed, have Swedish ancestry and she continued to share about her son and this woman that she adored who looked so much like me. I shared about my 3 year old daughter and told her that I hold my daughter every night and think of the Palestinian mothers and children and that this was what fueled me to continue to take action for ceasefire.
When we arrived at the gathering we were handed ceasefire signs (I took one) and a kind young woman near us, Fay, who had come solo with her menorah in hand, joined our conversation. I asked Fay to take a picture of me and Irene and when she took my phone she handed her menorah to Irene to hold for the photo.
We paused our conversation as the event began. We listened to the powerful speakers, sang along with the crowd, and shouted in agreement for humanity and ceasefire.
The gathering was outside and it was quite cold so I offered to hold the Palestinian flag so Irene could warm her hands. Over the next 90 minutes we took turns warming our hands and holding the flag. A simple act of kindness and community care.
I smiled to myself that I - a white non-religious woman - was holding a ceasefire sign with a menorah illustration handed to me by a Jew and a Palestinian flag handed to me by a Palestinian, and the three of us - unlikely to ever meet in any other circumstance - were all there together, in camaraderie and solidarity, demanding human rights, safety and freedom for all.
Then, at one point amidst the magic of humanity, Irene took my hand and placed in it a $20 bill.
She said to me, “Buy your daughter a gift from me. Children are our happiness in these hard times.”
I could have easily said no. I do not need the money and we had just met! But it was such a beautiful act of kindness that I wanted to honor her by receiving it fully.
So I said, “I will. Thank you.”
When we were too cold to stand outdoors any longer, Fay, Irene and I took one last photo - a selfie of the three of us - and exchanged phone numbers. We checked in later that night to make sure we had all gotten home safe.
The next day I ordered a children’s book for my daughter: “Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine” written by Palestinian American author, Hannah Moushabeck, and illustrated by Reem Madooh.
I messaged Irene to let her know that this was going to be the gift from her for my daughter who loves books. She was delighted and even offered to give me more money for the shipping next time I saw her!
I sent her this in response:
“You have already greatly blessed me and my family, your gift is complete and I am beyond grateful ❤️❤️❤️ and yes, children are our happiness always and especially in these awful times. Bless you! So much love to you 🙌🏻❤️❤️❤️”
THIS is the world I choose. A world filled with kindness, empathy and solidarity. A world that understands that your freedom, health and wellness are inextricably tied to my freedom, health and wellness. A world that offers helping hands, humanity and dignity to ALL.
Please take action to call for a ceasefire.
Click here to message the White House right now. I send at least one message daily to the President and Vice President.
Click here to find your House reps and here to find your members of Congress and message them all as well.
Call all your government officials with 5calls.org.
Seek out and learn from groups advocating for peace like: Rabbis4Ceasefire (who led the Chanukah for Ceasefire event) and Standing Together (based on the ground in Israel).
Follow two beloved Palestinian journalists on the ground in Gaza: Bisan and Motaz.
Follow Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour (who was also a speaker at the Chanukah for Ceasefire event).
Donate to humanitarian organizations on the ground: Baitulmaal (recommended by Linda Sarsour), Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders.
Join gatherings, protests and boycotts in support of ceasefire and show up in person (if you are following the above people and groups that’s a place to start).
May we continue to use our voices to stop the cycles of violence both locally and globally. Hold humanity close. Let your heart break. Demand peace and freedom for all.
With big love,
Kelsey