Empathy. What is it? The Oxford Dictionary describes empathy as "the ability to understand another person’s feelings.” Empathy is shown in many ways. Comforting a friend? That is empathy. Listening to someone when they need it? That is empathy. For me, a Jewish person, empathy is foundational to my faith. Beyond my faith, whether you know me or not, empathy is something I try my best to exude in every interaction.

In the past two years of the violent conflict in Israel, empathy has become even more important in my life—mainly, empathy toward the people of Israel.

For some background, my mom was adopted at a very young age by an Israeli immigrant. Despite the fact that she may have looked different, or was not from Israel, her new family still took her in and showed her the utmost empathy. As an “unofficial Israeli,” my heart will always lie there in the kindness that was shown toward my mother by her adoptive family.

With my family living there, and having to worry about their safety every day, my views on Israel are simple: I want the war to end. My empathy for Israel and the people living there has been astronomical since the day I was taught about the beautiful country.

Even though I am an Israel supporter through and through, I still show much empathy to the other side of the conflict. They are people, just like the Israelis. They bleed the same blood, just like the Israelis. They quite literally drink the same water as the Israelis. The oppressive terrorists in Gaza do nothing but hurt and starve the civilians there, intentionally putting them in harm's way. I anxiously wait for the day when there can be a peaceful, amicable two-state solution.

Recently, it has become common to be harsh and dismissive toward empathy. Showing empathy to the other side of the conflict has become looked down upon. When have our hearts grown so small that there is only enough room for empathy toward one group of people? This does not apply to one side of the conflict, but to both.

In the past two years, the lack of empathy toward Jewish people has been staggering. Never would I have thought that I would receive the amount of hate I have gotten. Never would I have thought that having a random person comment anti-Semitic hate on a completely unrelated Instagram post of mine, just because I have a Jewish star in my bio, would be something I would have to experience.

I want people to be more aware of the issue of anti-Semitism. Since the war was reignited, the amount of hatred toward Jewish people has been a horrific sight. I believe that it is my job, along with everyone else's, to make sure this trend stops. To see any group of people get marginalized is terrible, no less than for my own religion.

Again, though, this claim goes for both sides.

The lack of empathy toward the innocent civilians on the other side has been surprising. Whether we like it or not, Israel has not been correct in everything they have done. The Gazans deserve better treatment from an official and elected government specifically, not a terrorist organization. They deserve our empathy just as much as the Israelis do.

Most civilians do not support the terrorist regime there. Most do not align with the war. We need to realize that a small group of people does not represent a larger one. We cannot justify violence against an entire group of people just based on the false conclusion that all civilians are terrorists. It is simply not true and is a horrible way of thinking.

Many who are Jewish do not show empathy for the civilians of Gaza. Honestly, while I do not fully agree with this, there is no excuse for the action that started this all: the October 7 attacks in Israel. There have been many articles written on that subject, so I will not delve too deeply into it, but I truly believe it signified a melancholic future for the Jewish people everywhere.

There is a statement we like to use: “Never again is now.” The “never again” part refers to the Holocaust and the extermination of Jewish Europeans. The "now” part refers to the ongoing situation for Jewish people everywhere. Everywhere, my people have suffered severe antisemitism, hasty generalizations, and unwarranted hate for no apparent reason. This needs to end.

I would like to make it known: I am not just defending my religion and my people; I am defending the ideals on which peace is built. Far too often, we see hate go unnoticed. We see hate get justified. We see hate happen.

What everyone needs to know is that hate is hate, no matter why, no matter who. No matter what, hate is hate, and it is something that needs to stop. People always talk about living in a “perfect utopia" or living in harmony. What many do not realize is that this cannot be achieved with hate in anyone's heart.

This all ties back to empathy. We need to show more empathy. We need to change the minds of those who are hateful.

For me, empathy is something I try to show each and every day to anyone. Normally, I would say to try to achieve change in the name of Israel. Naturally, as a Jewish person, I would. But this October 7, I say change in the name of the world. Change in the name of empathy. Change for peace.