One of the most amazing things about Israelis is their uncanny ability to pick themselves up and do what is necessary to move on.

Please understand, I am not saying the situation is easy for them. It is not, and they are grieving. Deep trauma has been inflicted and they deal with significant mental, emotional and social hardships. Hundreds of thousands are displaced from their homes, families of over 1,400 people are mourning the loss of loved ones, families of at least 240 kidnapped victims are wondering if they will ever see their loved ones again, and thousands have family members now deployed in the war effort. They suffer, and we should never cease to lift them up in prayer.

However, in the midst of grief and trauma, they move on. They have a zeal for life that is unsatiable. It is impossible to keep Israelis down, and I believe God has given them a supernatural fighting spirit. He knew how they would be shunned and hated throughout history and, thus, endowed them with a quality unlike any other people group.

Israelis are masters at mobilizing in the face of crisis. When disaster strikes somewhere in the world, it is often Israelis who show up first, well-prepared and fully capable of lending much needed aid and service. When tragedy strikes them, they move with the same sense of urgency. Particularly when their existence is threatened, they come together as a people, knowing they will never make it if they are divided. So petty politics is set aside and they lock arms to ensure their existence. They mourn together and they work together to bring about greater good.

In Jerusalem, the Old City walls serve as gigantic billboards where various Israeli symbols are often projected. Several years ago, I was blessed to be in Jerusalem during the first nights of Hanukkah. The walls were lit up with festive dreidels, hanukkiah, and dancing patterns of all things festive. It was quite a site! In addition, throngs of Israelis were singing and dancing all over the large pedestrian area just outside Jaffa Gate. Israelis know how to party!

But they also know how to mourn. Those same city walls upon which merriment is projected now display pictures of the 240 or so known hostages held by Hamas. (See the picture above.) They gather, they mourn, they pray. They know how to grieve.

The video below documents the trauma and the resilience. It draws attention to an organization who has already organized and is helping displaced families (particularly children) deal with the agony that has suddenly become part of life for so many. Pick up the video at the 14:00 mark and catch a glimpse of Israeli resilience. We could all learn a thing or two about getting the focus off ourselves and on to a greater cause.

Enjoy.