The Secret Is Not To Fear During a week of unintentional downtime following my return from the South Bay Leadership mission to Israel I have spent hours ruminating of the important issues that were highlighted during our war time visit to Israel. During this time my mind continued to return to a well-known aphorism attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, albeit with a twist. “The world,” the rabbi said, “is like a narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all.” The statement of the rabbi is easy to say, and even easier to sing, and yet it does not ring entirely true. This seemingly simple phrase reminds me of the Bene Gesserit mantra found in Dune , that “fear is a mind killer.” Hebert, however, adds, “ Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
On February 19, eighteen members of the South Bay Jewish community arrived in Israel for a mission of solidarity. Rabbis and professionals, past and current lay leaders from synagogues, schools, Unexeptable, and Jewish Silicon Valley joined together to bear witness, visit the sick and comfort the mourners. This blog will feature posts from participants to document and share what we have witnessed and experienced.