The Importance of Jews Honoring Their Heroes and Warriors in Preparation for the Future

After witnessing Hamas’ vicious attack on Oct. 7, I’ve had the opportunity to visit both Israel and the United States. I’ve observed a striking contrast between the coverage between the two countries of the day’s horrific events.

In Israel, approximately one quarter of the news reports highlighted not victimhood, but heroism.

These stories included incredible tales of ordinary Israelis:

• A bus driver who repeatedly risked his life to shuttle as many people out of the music festival as possible.
• A grandfather who, upon learning his son and grandchildren were trapped in a safe room as terrorists rampaged, grabbed a gun and led the charge that saved them.
• A woman who delayed certain death at the hands of terrorists by offering them food and drinks, providing enough time for the IDF to rescue her.

We also heard firsthand stories from elite soldiers who fought on that first day. Israel’s Channel 12 interviewed four commanders of the Egoz commando unit, all in their 20s. Their faces obscured for security reasons, but the steel in their eyes shone as they provided matter-of-fact accounts of how they charged forward, ensuring that terrorists would face them rather than civilians.

These stories have provided immense strength for Israelis and are deeply rooted in Israeli culture. However, this heroic element has not been a prominent part of American Jewish culture for numerous complex reasons. Nevertheless, the violent events of Oct. 7 have prompted a shift, with many American Jews now recognizing the need for inspiration from stories of Jewish courage.

There is an acute need for inspirational stories of Jewish courage, sacrifice, and overcoming. To address this, philanthropist Michael Steinhardt proposes a “pantheon of Jewish heroes” to celebrate heroic figures from across Jewish history and provide educational resources around them, a point he expands upon in the newly published collection called “Jewish Priorities,”

American Jews will need immense spiritual resources for what may become a generational battle for their own security and legitimacy. They will need the comfort, strength, and exemplars that only a robust education in heroism can provide.

David Hazony is the editor of “Jewish Priorities: Sixty-Five Proposals for the Future of Our People” (Wicked Son, 2023). He lives in Jerusalem.