We are in a new Jewish era. Here, for example, is a sentence that would never have been said before: A kibbutznikit from Kfar Azza was the keynote speaker at the annual conference of Chabad women.
Anat Elkabetz is the mother of Sivan Elkabetz who was murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Azza. Before rabbaniot and thousands of women at Binyanei Ha'uma in Jerusalem, this week she emotionally shared her personal conclusions:
"We were besieged in 4 different safe rooms for 22 hours, and we came out different. Sivan and another 1,200 people were brutally murdered on Simchat Torah simply for being Jews.
My daughter was murdered as a Jew, and since then I ask what this means. Is it enough that I was born to Jewish parents? That's it? What does it mean to be Jewish as an individual? What does it mean to be part of a people? What does this demand of me and of each one of us?".
And then Anat shared the beginning of an answer that is taking shape within her:
"We learned ourselves where hatred can lead. They hate us. This is their language, this is their education for babies, hatred is ingrained in them. So let us also use our natural power and root it from childhood, from infancy. The power of love, of Jewish identity, faith, joy, unity. Let us awaken every baby on our side to this, from age zero. Let us not be afraid to bring Judaism into the state education system.
Our justice and morality are the truth. I am learning more and more Torah, Chassidut, the weekly Torah portion – how did I not know about these treasures before?
You don't need to reach age 57 and you don't need to lose a daughter to ask questions about identity and about my mission in the world."
Thank you, dear Anat. And also Mazal tov. Anat spoke about a new generation of Jewish babies, and on Shabbat, Shimon, Anat's husband, was the sandek (godfather) of their new grandson - Ori.
