I had fully intended this week’s blog to be a follow-up piece about NTCA 2023 Fall Conference, which concluded a mere two weeks ago in Boston. The meeting was a significant gathering of our members at a critical time for the rural broadband industry. Between it falling the week that NTCA members had to make a future selection on whether they would take their Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model offers and the need for member committees to deliberate on a myriad of other issues and industry trends, we had a busy but vibrant time. The rooms were filled with energy and excitement as we saw so many of our vendor partners share technology tools for consideration as rural broadband providers continue to deploy broadband networks as quickly as possible.
The meeting itself began on Yom Kippur eve, the most holy day in the Jewish faith, and in typical fashion, I had observed the day of atonement in my hotel room on Saturday evening prior to kicking off the events the following morning. I had essentially moved the holiday up a day for my own private reflections on the times over the course of the past year when I had not acted with the integrity I expect from myself or times when I had not treated someone the way they deserve to be treated. I am not terribly exciting as a rule, but thinking about where I have sinned or acted less honorably than I could is always a healthy exercise and forces to me recenter on how I want to improve in the year ahead.
As a matter of fact, when I was young and one of a true tiny handful of Jewish children growing up in Fond du Lac, Wis., part of our Yom Kippur observance was to walk to a local river and “throw” our sins into it. On one hand, what a refreshing way to get rid of all my “bad deeds” in one fell swoop once a year. On the other hand, I was mortified that anyone from school would drive by and see me given the relatively rough start I had in town being held down on the playground in fourth grade as kids felt for the horns that they thought were on the heads of Jewish people. Even typing this makes my heart twist a bit. It also made me put a priority on fitting in and sliding along, which is why even sharing this is stepping out of the box a bit for me.
But as we finished the High Holy Days just a few days ago, terror struck in Israel with the massacre of hundreds and hundreds of civilians including babies, families and grandparents. I have since been finding myself trying to keep perspective as I watch the news, and then turning off the news and then turning the news back on, feeling that I must pay some type of homage to those who have lost their lives or their loved ones. My mother’s heart simply clenches for those in harm’s way.
I am not looking to be political here, but I am looking to be personal with anyone who reads this. As an American Jew, I have been to Israel and found myself astounded that I had not been there prior to my trip a few years back. Regardless of what religious or political beliefs you hold, the land is special and holds so much history and meaning for all. I was already thinking of planning my return trip. Now those images of the land of milk and honey are forever tainted by images of hate, murder, desecration and so much grief.
More than that, I think I am struggling to wrap my head around how there can be so much hatred and inhumanity in the world, and I simply hope that our next generations can do better and be better.
I hope we can join together in praying for peace for all people, but particularly in this part of the world. #IStandWithIsrael.