A Lesson in Tolerance

When it comes to my country, I am usually the first one to brag and show-off. Israel is a High Tech world-leader, with the most startups per capita than any other place in the world. Israel is also a leading country when it comes to women’s rights, and at the forefront of morality and respect for human rights in military actions. This week, however, I couldn’t be less proud. In fact, I am ashamed of my country.

Yesterday, the skies were dark in the morning, even though we’re in the midst of August’s heat wave. It was probably due to the massive wildfire in Jerusalem from the day before, but to me, it was mostly symbolic. I felt like the sky represented our aching hearts after a very painful weekend. In 2 days, two terror attacks occurred in Israel and shook us to the core.

The first one was on Thursday, when an Ultra-Orthodox man named Yishai Schlissel stabbed 6 people at the Jerusalem Pride Parade. Schlissel was released from prison just several weeks prior to the parade, after serving 10 years in prison for his last attack at similar circumstances, which wounded three people. On Sunday, it was published that one of the people stabbed by him, 16 year old Shira Banki who attended the parade to support her friends, “>A Palestinian infant was killed and his family members wounded after their house was set on fire by Jewish terrorists. The baby, Ali Dawabsha, was buried while Israeli doctors attempted to rescue the rest of his family.

Over the weekend, people gathered in support of the two communities who were wounded, yet again, by hatred. In beautiful acts of solidarity, rallies were set, hugs were handed out, and Facebook posts filled our Feeds. The Prime Ministers strictly condemned the two terror attacks, the government laid out a new set of rules aimed to