Two weeks after the brutal massacre of at least 1400 Israelis, over 4000 injured and the taking of over 200 hostages I’m experiencing a myriad of normal grief reactions: sadness, denial, anger, helplessness, numbness and fear. Perhaps you’ve listened to the impassioned speeches by President Biden and NYC Mayor Eric Adams (YouTube) as I have.

Today my feeling of fear stretches beyond what’s happening in the Middle East and I’m reminded of the poem by the Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller who initially as a Nazi supporter and self identified antisemite was SILENT. He later became an outspoken enemy of Hitler and was imprisoned in two concentration camps. His poem - “First They Came”

First they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews and I did to speak out because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Will you be SILENT?

-Harriet