The timing of this war in Israel could not have occurred at a more pivotal moment in my life.

For those who may not know me, I am Michael Racer. I am 19 years old and I grew up in Teaneck. At this point in my life, I have finished high school; I’ve taken a gap year in Israel and I am not sure of where my life will go from here. But what I do know for certain is that I am drafting into the Israel Defense Forces, the IDF.

This war is coinciding with the cusp of my draft process with Mahal, Israel’s organization which helps lone soldiers join the army. My enlistment is in late December. With the current war going on around me, I have been feeling mixed emotions towards my draft. I am scared of the possible reality of drafting into a war. I am scared that I might have to put my life on the line. I am scared that I might have to be the cause of another human’s death. Yet despite these fears, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride. I am proud to be defending the land our people have prayed for for thousands of years. I am proud to be serving the nation that helped defend my existence as a Jew.

I am proud to be a Jew.

This sense of pride and courage is bolstered by the following anecdote: Upon hearing the news here in Israel, my mother offered to put me on the first flight she could get out. With tears forming in my eyes, I typed, “I came here to put myself through all this and all that those before me went through. Leaving would be turning my back.” That text I sent has been the definition of my courage these past few days, and I do not see it changing.

Along with that text, I have been taking with me the lessons learned from the day the war began, Simchat Torah. This Simchat Torah, I had the privilege to celebrate with my yeshiva for another year. Before we were to start hakafot, we had a small kiddush where the program director and rabbi broke the news of what was happening at the Gaza border. During this talk, my rabbi said something I cannot forget. He said that right now we have two options, we either let our fears and sadness consume us and allow Hamas to achieve their goal, or we push those feelings back and celebrate and dance with our Torah, despite what Hamas is trying to do to us. These words gave me a new bout of confidence and taught me a new lesson: not to let the fear control my choices, control my life and control who I am as a Jew.

Amidst the powerful backdrop of that Simchat Torah celebration, where my rabbi’s words resonated deeply, the essence of “חזק חזק ונתחזק” became more significant than ever. As we completed the reading of the Torah, those three words, “Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen each other,” served as a profound call to action. They encapsulated a poignant truth: As Jewish individuals, we must stand together to defend Israel. This solidarity takes many forms, from speaking out against antisemitism and protesting anti-Israel sentiment to, in my case, preparing to serve in Israel’s army. It is a reminder of our collective responsibility to support one another, to fortify our bond as a community, and to stand unwavering in our commitment to the land and people of Israel.

Despite the protests that had been going on in Israel previously, as soon as the war broke out, the nation immediately set our differences aside and came together. No matter their backgrounds or ideology, Israelis across the country donated blood for those in need, cooked and delivered homemade meals for soldiers, gave strangers a shoulder to cry on, and created different means of supporting our country. And outside of the country, thousands of Jews, even non-Jews, stood arm in arm in unwavering support of Israel.

Furthermore, later on Simchat Torah, we read the day’s haftarah, the first chapter of יהושע, when the power is changed from משה רבינו to יהושע. I was able to specifically connect to this story for it is now me who is assuming the power to fight for Israel. My brother Brian recently finished his service and is entering מילואים (reserves), so as he takes a step back I am taking a step forward. I feel as if I am a יהושע to a משה—one who steps up as another who is older and wiser steps down. It gives me confidence seeing what a leader יהושע was when he took over for משה, because I will soon be taking over for my brother.

I want to end with an idea shared by a family member living in Israel: She pointed out that 50 years ago, Israel fought a war for the judgment Hashem placed on us for the decisions made by Moshe Dayan. We know this because it began on Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgement. On the same day the Yom Kippur War began, 50 years later, another war began on a day of joy, יום שמחתכם. The war beginning on a day of joy may be a sign. May it be that we learned our lessons since then and may this be a sign that we are worthy of a joyous outcome.

I wish safety for all Jews in and out of Israel. I wish safety for all those currently fighting for Israel. I wish these events will only bring us together as a nation so that we may usher in the time of משיח.

Michael Racer is a 19 year old who finished a gap year at Torah Tech in Tel Aviv, Israel, and is now in the process of drafting into the IDF this coming December.