A Year Later: Standing United Against Those Who Seek to Destroy Us

By: Corey Ribotsky

As the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel approaches, anti-terror units of federal and local law enforcement are on heightened alert, preparing for the possibility of additional violence. The world holds its breath, bracing for what may come. For us as Jews, however, this day signifies more than just another dark chapter in the history of relentless persecution—it is a powerful reminder of our unwavering unity, strength, and resilience in the face of hatred that has threatened us for generations.

To Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and all other forces who seek to deny us our right to live as Jews, hear this: We are still here, and we stand as strong as ever. Despite your attempts to intimidate and terrorize us, our commitment to our identity and our heritage remains unshaken.

This month, I will turn another year older. Over these years, I have witnessed the horrors that hatred and intolerance can bring. I have seen the brutal attacks on innocent lives, the massacres, the rapes, and the tortures inflicted upon my Jewish brothers and sisters—women, children, and men alike. And as I reflect on these decades, one thing is painfully clear: the same conflict still rages on. The same players, the same violent ideologies, and the same tragic consequences repeat themselves, year after year, decade after decade.

What is the definition of insanity? It’s doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result. And yet, this cycle of hatred against Israel and the Jewish people has persisted, with those who seek our destruction refusing to change, to evolve, or to embrace peace. They continue to chant for Israel’s demise, while Israel endures. They dream of a world without us, while we stand strong in our reality—a testament to our resilience and right to exist.

The question they wish to ask is whether they can break us, whether they can force us to renounce who we are? Our answer, however, is loud and clear: No. We stand together as one, against any form of tyranny that seeks to knock us down and deny our fundamental right to exist, live peacefully, and raise our children to appreciate a world that is often fraught with peril but also filled with the beauty of resilience, faith, and love.

We are not victims; we are survivors. We are not helpless; we are empowered by a collective history that has taught us to find hope in the face of despair and light in the depths of darkness. As we approach this solemn anniversary, we remember those lost, those brutalized, and those who continue to suffer under the weight of this persistent hatred.

But most importantly, we renew our commitment to each other and to the generations who will follow. We reaffirm our right to be Jewish, to live in peace, and to pass down the legacy of our faith and culture to our children and grandchildren. They, too, will carry the torch, a reminder to the world that the Jewish spirit is indomitable, and no amount of cruelty will ever extinguish it.

And in this, we also reaffirm the beauty and rights of Israel, our Jewish homeland. To those who chant against its existence, remember this: Israel has endured and will continue to endure. I hate to disappoint you, but Israel is not going anywhere. It stands as a testament to our strength and resilience, just as we stand as a people united against those who seek to erase us. The hatred may continue, and the attacks may persist, but we will stand. As we have for centuries. As we always will.

In the 50 or so years I have been on the planet, I have seen the cycle repeat itself, but I have also seen the unwavering strength of our people. And to those who continue this cycle of hatred, understand that it will not succeed. We have endured every attempt to erase us, and we will continue to endure, embracing our identity and our heritage. And while they continue to try the same failed tactics, we will keep moving forward—stronger, more united, and more resilient than ever.

At this point in the world, we stand at a complete inflection point. There is no going back. The course of history has brought us to a moment where the stakes have never been higher. The choices we make, as individuals and as nations right now, will define the future for generations to come. For us, the Jewish people, this means there is no room for retreat, no space for compromise when it comes to our survival and our right to exist. The forces that seek to destroy us will learn this: we will not be erased. This moment in time is a declaration—Israel, and the Jewish people, are here to stay. And we will continue to defend that truth, unflinchingly, without hesitation, for as long as we must.

Never Forgive. Never Forget.