From Fear to Hope – A Journey Across the Narrow Bridge

By Julia Loeb, WLCJ International President

I have been hearing a popular Jewish song a lot lately since the Hamas attacks on Israel: Kol haolam kulo gesher tzar meod, veha-ikar lo lefached klal – the whole world is a very narrow bridge, but the main thing is to have no fear at all.

This song has become a rallying cry at vigils and all types of services. At the Conservative Movement Convening in December, the USYers there sang it over and over again, each time louder, faster and more enthusiastically. This song, based on a teaching from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov seems, on the face of it, to be upbeat and encouraging, but is it realistic to have no fear at all? After all fight or flight is a basic human instinct.

These are the cold, dark days of winter. We see dangerous antisemitism on the rise. We just marked 100 days since Hamas attacked Israel and kidnapped hostages, and Israel is charged with genocide in the United Nations International Court of Justice (where Israel’s warning civilians of attacks and guiding them to safe zones was unbelievably used as evidence of genocidal intent). How can we have no fear at all when so many dark clouds loom around us?

I recently learned that the song alters Rebbe Nachman’s quote. His actual quote is “…v’ha-ikar lo l’hit-pached klal.”  Instead of lo lefached klal, to have no fear at all, Rabbi Nachman uses the reflexive form of the verb lo l’hit-pached klal. Its meaning is similar, but not identical. Rabbi Nachman’s message is not that we shouldn’t fear at all, but that we shouldn’t be consumed, or paralyzed by our fear. Even though the bridge is narrow, it represents the way forward, a way to continue the journey, instead of turning back in fear.

Overcoming our fear, along with hope, faith, and determination are essential elements of who we are. It is no accident that the Israeli national anthem is Hatikvah, meaning “The Hope.”

Even among the dark clouds, there are reasons for hope and pride. We are not letting our fears overcome us. The Jewish people are donating to Israeli and Jewish organizations in record numbers. In Israel, brave soldiers risk their lives to defeat Hamas and to gain return of the kidnapped victims. Everyday Israelis are supporting one another. The level of care and support in Israel for those displaced by the Hamas attack and the war is simply inspiring. 

Eleanor Roosevelt said that we should do one thing that scares us every day. If we do not succumb to it, fear can be a powerful motivator. It motivates many of us to contribute our time and resources to efforts in Israel. It motivates others to push back against antisemitism by wearing a Magen David in public or flying an Israeli flag outside your home. And in Women’s League, I see women push past their fears and take on new challenges and leadership roles, whether it’s accepting a position on your Sisterhood affiliate or Region Board when a member of the nominating committee calls, or leading part of the service for Women’s League Shabbat. 

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel observed that it is our fate, as in the many generations before us, to cross that narrow bridge, to preserve and secure the continuity of the Jewish people and to “give new life to our traditions.” Conservative Judaism has always focused on tradition and change, and as we move forward, Women’s League will be there as your voice. As I meet more and more Women’s League members across the country, my hope and confidence in our future grows. I am energized by the passion and the strength of our community. Together, we are walking across the narrow bridge, keeping ourselves from being overcome by fear, and working towards a better tomorrow.

Shabbat Shalom!

Julia Loeb
WLCJ International President
jloeb@wlcj.org