Mourning lives lost in service to others

I’ve always been interested to note how people respond to trauma and crisis. Some people see the suffering of others and run away from it. I don’t judge that, not everyone is equipped to take that on, and not everyone is equipped to do it all the time. Then there are those who see suffering and run towards it, wanting (needing) to be of service. I aspire to be one of the people who sees crisis and runs towards it, with arms outstretched.

The staff of World Central Kitchen are shining examples of people who run towards the suffering of others, and do so at great risk. This week, seven of them were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Seven lives lost in service to humanity.

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In Jewish tradition we have a saying that anyone who saves a life is as if they saved an entire world. But to lose your life while desperately trying to save the lives of others - it’s truly hard to find the words. These folks are the best of humanity, going into war torn areas to bring sustenance to people experiencing profound trauma. I feel their loss deeply. I mourn that they lost everything while trying to give what they could to others.

The deaths of seven humanitarian workers only underscores that it is far far far past time to acknowledge this isn’t working. No one is being kept safer by indiscriminate killing. This isn’t a path to a viable future, and it certainly isn’t the path to peace. There is nothing to be built through widespread destruction. The surest way to create another generation of hate and fear and trauma is to continue these devastating attacks. Violence begets more violence, and this level of violence is just unfathomable. To kill so many Gazans and then kill the very people who are trying to help them… when does this end?

I can only imagine what José Andrés is feeling right now. He can’t possibly risk the lives of more of his staff. But not sending them means other lives will be lost. A horrible choice for a leader, all while he mourns the loss of seven of his workers.

May the memories of Saifedden Issam Ayad Abutaha, Lalzawmi (Zomi) Frankcom, Damian Soból, Jacob Flickinger, John Chapman, James (Jim) Henderson, and James Kirby be for a blessing. May they inspire us all to be the people who run towards the suffering of others.

The bloodshed has to stop.

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