Last week, Israel had flooding that led to the loss of ten youth, and the country was in a period of mourning for several days following. In Tel Aviv, there was a heavy downpour that was gone within an hour. In Jerusalem, water rushed through the streets (see the video below for some footage). The worst of of it happened in the Negev, the desert that covers southern Israel.
There was a training exercise for a small group of pre-army teens which took place in the Negev. During the trip, it began raining heavily. Rather than waiting a day for it to pass, the group leader chose to go on, only changing their route to try to avoid the rains. They hiked in a valley. Then came a flash flood. While the majority of the people survived, ten young men and women were killed in the flood. The rest were rescued.
The news covered the story for two days. Candlelight vigils were held all around Israel. People who don’t even know them came out to support, as I saw on Facebook. This leads me to my point: Israelis and especially Israeli Jews hold each other as a big family. We’re not a group of strangers. Israelis aren’t always the friendliest bunch, but they are one of the most fiercely loyal bunches I’ve ever encountered. When an event occurs like this one does, the entire country mourns each one of the losses. I don’t recall feeling that love for one’s own people back home in the States. That said, I don’t ignore how Jews aren’t always so open-hearted to other Jews. It’s sometimes unkind, sometimes brutal, but when they care, they’re passionately invested in other Jews.
It always depends on the person but what I’ve seen on average is that the loss of even one Jew is a tragedy. Every single life is a matter of significance and dramatic importance. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case for the attitude towards many Arabs and Palestinians. All people are not the same. Some Jews are open-hearted and loving. Some Palestinians are open-hearted and loving. Some Jews and some Palestinians are not kind.
We are first and foremost people. On top of that we’re nationalities and religions. The sad truth is that many loving Jews are completely flippant to Palestinians being slaughtered. Ten Jews die, that’s a tragedy. 100 Gazans die in a peaceful protest, for example, no biggie. Jews matter. So do Palestinians. Because we’re people. We all matter. Each person, no matter who they are or where they come from, also has a life: family, parents, and children… They all have people who care for them.
What I love so much about the people I’m surrounded by is sadly not at hand for people outside the tribe. Inclusion is a good thing unless or until it creates exclusion. Then I’d rather be a part of the whole than be included exclusively.
My discoveries in Israel 
I love your conclusion here. I love how great they are at loving “their” people and valuing these lives. If only they would expand their definition of “their” people. How cool would that be? 🙂
What it would look like. Those seem to be like two separate ideas. I like having a both/and approach. It’s so lovely being included in a family. That’s a layer on top of a larger human family that all belongs simply by existence.