Two years ago today, the world was reminded how quickly hatred can spill across borders and into our lives.
On October 7, 2023, Israel was attacked by Hamas in an act of pure terror. Innocent people were slaughtered, babies mutilated, families shattered, and the Jewish community around the world felt the chilling echo of antisemitism that has plagued them for centuries.
Today’s Chalkboard carries two anchors. The first comes from the New Testament: “Put on the full armor of God.” The second is the Latin phrase Nil desperandum... never despair.
Together they form a shield, not only for Christians but also for our Jewish brothers and sisters who continue to face threats simply because of their faith and identity.
I once thought I had a dear friend, someone who held me up when life weighed heavy. She hugged me the day my dad died. She baked cookies for Hazel during that summer of 2022 when Hazel's mom left her adrift. She reintroduced me to Khalil Gibran, whose words gave me comfort at a time when I needed it.
That friendship ended soon after October 7, 2023. It ended because I stood with Israel. It ended because I refused to accept antisemitism dressed up as politics.
That loss hurt, but two years later, I have come to see it clearly. A friend who abandons you because you reject hatred is not a friend at all. A friend worth keeping does not walk away when standing shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish people becomes inconvenient.
The bible verse tells us to put on God’s armor. Not halfway, not just the helmet or the shield, but the full armor.
Why?
Because the attacks that come against people of faith, whether Jewish or Christian, are relentless. Hatred does not rest. It finds new disguises, new justifications, new excuses. And yet, it is the same ancient evil that has haunted humanity since 600 A.D..
That is where Nil desperandum comes in.
Never despair.
The attacks are real, the losses cut deep, but despair is exactly what the enemy wants. The way to fight back is not with surrender, not with silence, and not with bitterness, but with faith, courage, and solidarity.
Today, we say to our Jewish friends, You are not alone.
The Christian community stands with you. Together, we will not bow to those who thrive on division and bloodshed. We will not let hatred dictate who is worthy of compassion.
The armor of God is not just for defense; it is for holding firm in the face of darkness and “never despair” is not blind optimism. It is the steady heartbeat of people who know that faith, memory, and love are stronger than any ideology of hate.
So, on this anniversary, let us remember.
Let us honor the lives lost.
Let us stand together, armored and unbroken, never despairing, never silent.
Because the world may tremble, but the light of God’s people, Jew and Christian alike, will not be extinguished.
