By: Nelly Ben Tal
Senior Israel Community Emissary (Shlicha)
Human nature craves certainty. We seek clear answers, quick solutions, something solid to hold onto. That’s exactly what the Israelites longed for when Moses disappeared up the mountain for what felt like an eternity. They panicked. They needed something tangible to reassure them that they weren’t lost in the desert with nothing but doubt. So, they built a golden calf—not because they truly believed a statue could replace God, but because it was there. It was simple. It gave them something to dance around when everything else felt uncertain.
But certainty is often an illusion. Life is never that simple.
Right now, Israel faces a devastating reality: fifty-nine hostages remain in captivity. Some we know are alive. Others, we just don’t know.
In the face of unbearable uncertainty, everyone seeks answers. One path. One truth.
The streets are filled with voices: some demanding immediate action to bring all the hostages back, some warning of dangerous compromises, some call out to the State Commission of Inquiry, and some for judicial reform. The louder the noise, the stronger the urge to cling to an absolute position. Don’t you feel here it is quite the same?
Golden calves are built in moments like these. When faced with complexity, we long for simplicity. But is complexity the goal or just a tool to serve our people’s purpose? Do we see those who think differently as partners or as adversaries? How do we ensure that Jewish and Zionist identity—across its many shades—doesn’t alienate those struggling to find their footing in this uncertainty?
So, how do we move forward?
Respect the moment, the history, and human nature—with compassion.
For ourselves. For each other.
As a Jewish community, we show immense compassion for others, yet sometimes, it feels like we extend less of it to our own.
Israeli musician Ehud Banai once wrote: “Believe that if you’ve broken, you can also repair.”
It’s okay to fear what comes next. It’s okay to feel uneasy when confronted with opinions that challenge our own. It’s okay to apologize when we react harshly out of anger or fear.
It’s okay to feel hopeless sometimes.
And yes, it’s even okay to let the tears fall, to allow the weight of this moment to settle over us.
(Here’s a beautiful cover of – “אל תפחד” Al Tifchad by IDF soldiers, recorded on November 23.)
At the end of the day, our challenge isn’t to build something golden to worship. It’s to build a community that can carry itself through uncertainty—together.
Shabbat Shalom.
Don’t Be Afraid (Lyrics & Music: Ehud Banai)
Don’t be afraid,
You are not alone.
It was just a small prick,
A sudden and swift shock.
Yes, you lost control for a moment,
You weren’t careful enough.
And now, warning bells
Are ringing in your head.
You want to forget,
To start over.
So believe, that if you’ve ruined,
You can also fix—yes, yes.
Don’t be afraid,
You are not alone.
If the moment of fear returns,
I will come to extend my hand to you.
I will always be close to you,
To embrace you in case you tremble.
Now, warning bells
Are ringing in your head.
You want to forget,
To start over.
So believe, that if you’ve ruined,
You can also fix—yes, yes.
Don’t be afraid,
You are not alone.
Please email Nelly Ben Tal at nbental@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.