Remembering October 7: Choosing Unity Over Division

We solemnly remember the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians — one of the darkest days for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The victims were young people dancing for peace, families gathered in their homes, and men, women, children, and babies who were assaulted, murdered, or taken hostage (48 of whom remain in captivity). The brutality of that day — including the use of sexual violence and the deliberate targeting of innocents — was an assault on our shared humanity, violating our most basic human values.

Since October 7, antisemitism has surged around the world — a painful echo of history that deepens the wounds of Jewish communities and fuels further polarization. Recognizing this reality is essential to understanding how trauma and fear can spread beyond borders, adding to the suffering of many.

We are deeply pained by the enormous loss of both Israeli and Palestinian lives since Hamas initiated this war two years ago. Every person killed in this conflict is someone’s child, parent, friend, or loved one. Hate and violence do not discriminate — they destroy us all.

We stand for peace and coexistence, even when the path forward feels impossibly narrow. Our team and network include people from many cultures, backgrounds, and worldviews. Through our work, we’ve learned that coexistence doesn’t mean agreeing on everything — it means staying in dialogue, working through pain and difference, and holding fast to one another’s shared humanity.

Every day, we speak to families torn apart by ideology and communities fractured by fear. We see how pain can be exploited by those who thrive on division — online and offline. They amplify anger, manipulate grief, and deepen wounds so that more suffering follows. Our shared task is to deny them that victory by standing firm in empathy and common purpose.

Now more than ever, unity and compassion are not luxuries — they are acts of strength and survival for all of us.

Who We Are and Why We Exist 

At Parents for Peace, we exist because prevention begins at home — in families, schools, and communities where people can still reach one another before hate has a chance to take root. We are a nonprofit organization devoted to helping parents and professionals recognize and respond to the early warning signs of radicalization and violent extremism.

Our work takes many forms: one-on-one interventions with families in crisis, training for educators and law enforcement, and dialogue with faith and community groups across every background. Whether we are sitting in a mosque, a church, a synagogue, or a community center, our approach is the same: meet people where they are, listen without judgment, and remind everyone that peace begins with curiosity, understanding, and shared humanity.

In a world overwhelmed by division and disinformation, we work to replace fear with connection and help communities strengthen their resilience against hate and extremism.

How We Move Forward

The pain and polarization surrounding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict run deep. Moving forward means turning inward to our communities and values — not as echo chambers for anger, but as sources of strength and resilience.

We encourage everyone to:

• Reject all forms of collective blame. Resist the temptation to see entire peoples or religions as enemies.

• Stay rooted in your values. Let compassion, honesty, and dignity guide your words and actions — especially in moments of pain.

• Seek common ground. Remember what we share — our desire for safety, justice, and peace — and let that be stronger than what divides us.

• Acknowledge differences with empathy. Disagreement need not lead to dehumanization; coexistence begins where empathy and understanding are practiced.

  
  

We’ve forgotten how to stay in dialogue through discomfort. Change starts with example, not argument — with choosing understanding over anger and connection over contempt. If you or someone you know is struggling with hate or fear, contact Parents for Peace. Together, we can turn division into dialogue.

As a society, we have forgotten how to sit with discomfort and still choose dialogue over hostility. Yet change begins through example, not argument. When we choose understanding over anger, connection over contempt, and courage over fear, we model the peace we all claim to want.

Let us remember those who lost their lives on October 7 — and every life taken since — by committing ourselves to breaking the cycle of hate and building a world where compassion endures.

This is our promise: to keep showing up, to keep listening, and to keep building bridges — even when the world seems intent on burning them. Peace begins where conversation continues.

If you or someone you know is struggling with hate, fear, or polarization, reach out confidentially to Parents for Peace. Together, we can turn fear into understanding and division into dialogue.