As the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas marks a solemn moment of reflection, voices within the Jewish community emphasize the complex layers of suffering and the need for accountability that extend far beyond the initial violence. The attack, which resulted in significant loss of life, triggered years of ensuing conflict and hardship affecting Israelis, Palestinians, and Jewish communities worldwide.

Rabbi Rachel Timoner, senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, underscored the enduring pain on all sides, highlighting the wounded individuals and families from Gaza and Israel alike. She referenced the many Palestinian children displaced by settler violence in the West Bank since January and the ongoing trauma experienced by Israeli soldiers and hostage families affected by the conflict. According to Timoner, the shared experience of loss and fear spans a broad and diverse group, including Jews across the diaspora who confront heightened threats of antisemitic violence linked to the fallout from the conflict.

Central to her reflections is the Jewish tradition of atonement, which distinguishes between sins against God, remediable through prayer, and transgressions against fellow humans that require direct reconciliation. Timoner applied this framework to the political and moral responsibilities involved, focusing considerable attention on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She cited the 2024 documentary “The Bibi Files,” which revealed previously unseen police interrogations connected to long-pursued allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust against Netanyahu—charges the prime minister denies. Timoner criticized Netanyahu for prioritizing the retention of power amid these accusations, arguing that genuine atonement would demand he confront and repair the extensive damage attributed to his leadership, including the turmoil linked to the conflict.

The rabbi further pointed to additional actors responsible for perpetuating suffering, naming Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, successive U.S. administrations, Jewish and Israeli leaders who have enabled or ignored Netanyahu’s policies, as well as former U.S. President Donald Trump and antisemitic groups exploiting these tensions. She also stressed that anger at Israel’s government should never translate into hostility toward Jewish diaspora communities.

Timoner called on Netanyahu to acknowledge the widespread grievances his tenure has engendered, from families mourning lost children and soldiers coping with trauma to Jewish communities worldwide grappling with fear and insecurity. She highlighted the increased security burdens borne by synagogues, schools, and community centers, linking this growing need to fears that have been exacerbated by recent events.

Concluding her remarks during the Jewish festival of Sukkot—traditionally a time for sacrifices intended to foster harmony—Timoner described Netanyahu’s actions as sacrificing collective well-being rather than contributing to healing. She conveyed a deeply somber message about the difficulties of moving forward amid unresolved political and ethical challenges stemming from the ongoing conflict and the broader implications for Israeli society and global Jewry.