What Should We Understand after the Tragedy of October 7th?

560Question: A year has passed since the catastrophe on October 7th when the war began.

Terrorists from Gaza broke into Israeli territory and killed 1,432 people including 341 women and 36 children, one of whom was a 10-month-old baby.

251 people were taken hostage and transported to Gaza and 97 of them are still in captivity.

The phrase that had been said before: “Quiet for quiet”—if you’re quiet with us, we will be quiet with you did not work. On October 7th they started killing us.

A year has passed. What should we understand about ourselves and our society after these events?

Answer: We need to understand that we must not fear anyone. We must not show anyone that we can forgive when they come to kill us. We should not do that.

We must clearly understand that our salvation is only in our own hands, only in our weapons, and in nothing else.

Question: Do you think the events of October 7th changed how we perceive ourselves as a nation?

Answer: I think they did. They changed us.

Before October 7th we had hoped for some semblance of mutual, humane relations with others. After this we understand that such a thing is no longer possible, not in any way! Therefore, we now have greater confidence that we will not be dragged into another mess of egoism, bloodlust, and so on, as we were on October 7th.

Question: How can we ensure that the pain from these events stays with us? And should it?

Answer: It should. It is forever! For as long as we live on this Earth, we must remember that our neighbors are our most bitter enemies. We must never allow ourselves any weakness in this regard.

Question: How will we achieve peace?

Answer: That is when peace will come.

Question: So when we talk about peace, at the same time, do we always know that they do not want it? Is that how it works?

Answer: Yes, that they do not want it and do not even think about it. But when you think about war, then they will strive for peace.

Question: So if I ask you what steps we should take toward peace, are these the steps you are talking about?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Think about peace but at the same time?

Answer: Arm yourself.

Question: You always talk about unity, the unity of the people, and you say that this is our main weapon. It is clear to most people that unity is probably the most important thing. So why can’t we unite? Please explain.

Answer: Because we still do not truly understand within ourselves how necessary it is.

Question: Do we not have that understanding yet?

Answer: No.

Question: Does it come through suffering or what?

Answer: Gradually, through blows, we begin to realize that unity is in fact the most important thing.

Question: But through blows?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So if we do not realize it now, do you expect more to come?

Answer: Definitely.

Question: How can we realize this in a peaceful way, as they say, through light and not through darkness?

Answer: We must become such a strong light that they will fear us.

Question: When you say “we must become a light,” what do you mean?

Answer: That in our desire for peace, we are willing to do everything necessary so that those who oppose it cease to exist.

Question: When you talk about our desire for peace, do you mean peace with our neighbors? Or peace in general?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: And at the same time, you say that we must always be preemptive.

My Response: Of course.

Question: So Israel should always have a policy of preempting strikes.

But how did it happen that for 20 years we lived knowing that in the south they were digging underground Gaza and in the north Hezbollah was arming itself? We knew all this, and yet we somehow lived on. Can you explain this to me? I am trying to understand the mindset of the leadership or even of ourselves.

Something terrible was brewing nearby, and we did not act. Why? Can you tell me what this kind of complacency was about?

Answer: We wanted to appear kind, good, and peace-loving to each other and to the whole world. But this is a terrible delusion.

Question: Really? Should we not care about the world, about the world’s opinion?

Answer: Not at all!

Question: What should we care about?

Answer: Only about the necessity of our existence as the people of Israel because our existence is aimed at achieving the highest state of humanity.

Question: So you call our position, even a corporeal one, the center of the world?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: Today this is becoming more and more apparent. You have always said this actually, that this is the central problem, the central point of the world.

My Response: Yes.

Question: What healing process must we go through?

Answer: We must explain to everyone that the world exists for the purpose of bringing all nations together, uniting them around the most important thing in the world, which is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Question: Are you saying that the whole world should somehow push us toward that?

Answer: Yes.

Question: The world should constantly signal to us that we need to do that?

Answer: Yes.

Question: For them?

Answer: For everyone. This is the central point of the entire existence of the universe.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/7/24

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