How to respond to the battlefield we live in

This article discusses the power of words, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and rising antisemitism. It emphasizes that words shape reality, citing the Jewish prayer "Baruch she'amar v'hayah ha'olam" as a reminder of humanity's unique ability to create through speech. The author argues that "ignorance, repeated and moralized, is fuel for the fire that burns against us," highlighting how fanatical rhetoric, like that preceding 9/11 and October 7, is built on lies. The piece criticizes rapper Macklemore for using "Hamas-level weaponization of Holocaust language" by invoking genocide charges against Israel while claiming peaceful intentions, noting that words are not harmless simply because benign intentions are announced. The author challenges readers to respond to this "battlefield we live in" where misinformation spreads, and stresses the importance of using words responsibly, like a weapon, especially during the Ten Days of Repentance. The article concludes by asserting that while repentance involves examining one's own language, it does not require accepting others' lies, and that insisting on the truth of Jewish lives, October 7, and Israel's right to existence is not something to apologize for.