For the first two weeks of January, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Thailand and Japan for my long-awaited honeymoon after getting married in August. My trip was supposed to be filled with beautiful beaches, wonderful nature, animals, and nothing but happiness and love. It was filled with all of those things, don’t get me wrong, but it was also filled with anxiety and fear for my family and friends dealing with the unexpected fires which have plagued Los Angeles this past month. While I was having an incredible time with my wife, I was also filled with dread for my beloved city and the people I care about most. This is all happening, of course, against the backdrop of the terrible reality of what is happening in Israel as well as the hope for the return of all the hostages which weighs heavily on my heart.
One day during the trip, my wife and I went on an ATV tour of the jungle in Koh Samui, Thailand—a small Island off the southern coast of Thailand. We saw monkeys, incredible trees, and wonderful views. At the halfway point of the excursion, we stopped at a small cafe/treehouse that was set up for tourists who were on trips like mine or ziplining in the jungle. My wife and I got some coffee and snacks and were hanging out, trying not to think about the destruction happening at home and the horrors happening in Israel when, all of a sudden, we heard Eyal Golan’s anthem, Am Yisrael Chai, playing from the speakers in the cafe. All of a sudden, people started dancing and singing all around us. Of course, it only took a moment before I was joining in and soon we were all singing at the top of our lungs: “AM YISRAEL CHAI!” It turned out that an Israeli tour group happened to be at this cafe at the same time as us. We spoke with them of hope for peace and of how we can still celebrate in times of tragedy.
This experience was life changing. Through this joy of singing and dancing, I was reminded of how our people have always found joy and celebration, even in times of destruction and peril. If these Israeli tourists can sing and dance with me in Thailand during such a difficult time, then you and I can find the courage to sing and dance as well.
—Cantorial Intern Andrew Paskil