A Journey from Hatred to Hope

In a world that often seems consumed by darkness and division, what does it take to choose the side of light? This was the central question explored in a recent episode of the Jew Function podcast, where hosts Lio and Seth engaged in a profound discussion with Rawan Gabriel Osman, who embarked on a remarkable journey from hatred of Jews to a deep connection with Judaism and the Jewish people. She is a sane voice speaking out against fundamentalism and has founded Arabs Ask, a forum meant for Arabs to ask questions and challenge preconceived notions about Judaism and Israel.

Rawan, who grew up in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, the heartland of Hezbollah, and later lived in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, brought a unique perspective to the conversation. She spoke candidly about her experiences navigating the complex tapestry of Sunni-Shia tensions, the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, and the pervasive antisemitism that suffused her upbringing.

“All I learned is that the Israelis are horrible, the Jews are awful,” she recalled. “I had never spoken to a Jew, I knew nothing except what I saw in the news, especially through wars.”

But a chance encounter in France would change the course of Rawan’s life. Living just 200 meters away from one of the biggest synagogues in the world, she began to see Jews in a different light. “Seeing that the Jews are actually nice. I like them. Why am I scared of them?” she recounted. “I did my due diligence, read about it and realized, okay, Hezbollah are awful. They are terrorists.”

Guest Rawan Gabriel Osman, founder of Arabs Ask, a forum meant for Arabs to ask questions and challenge preconceived notions about Judaism and Israel.

This realization set Rawan on a path of discovery, studying Islam and Judaism in university and grappling with the fundamental questions of good and evil, truth and falsehood. “I couldn’t understand the world until I discovered Judaism,” she said. “For me, it absolved me from depression, from this misery.”

This journey culminated in a profound spiritual awakening, as Rawan discovered through a DNA test on the eve of the October 7th conflict that she had Jewish ancestry. “I’m coming home,” she declared, recounting her decision to undergo an Orthodox conversion and make Aliyah to Israel. “I was willing to go through the conversion, an Orthodox conversion, because I wanted to make Aliyah, even before I ever visited Israel. I just knew that I was coming home.”

But Rawan’s story is more than just a personal journey of self-discovery. It is a powerful testament to the transformative power of truth and the resilience of the Jewish spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Throughout the discussion, Rawan and the hosts grappled with the deep-seated hatred and misinformation that fuels the ongoing conflict between Israel and its neighbors, and the challenges of fostering understanding and coexistence in a region torn by strife.

“There isn’t a single positive point that where I can put myself in their shoes.” Rawan lamented, describing the seemingly intractable hostility of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. “I concluded that they are not interested in the same things or they don’t see the world the same way. They want to die. They are detached from this world, from this dimension, and they think that salvation comes in the afterworld, in the afterlife.”

This mindset, rooted in a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam that glorifies martyrdom and demonizes Jews and Israel, poses a daunting challenge to those seeking peace and reconciliation. But as Rawan pointed out, it is not an insurmountable one. The key, she argued, lies in fostering critical thinking, questioning long-held assumptions, and being open to the possibility of change.

“Social media is one way. Wikipedia and YouTube can be censored, and so lies can be spread,” she said. Social media can be used to spread truth.

This message of hope and resilience in the face of darkness was a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Even as Osman described the horrors of the October 7th conflict and the ongoing threat of terrorism, she remained steadfast in her conviction that the Jewish people would prevail.

“Knowing that we will prevail against all odds keeps me going,” she declared. “I feel sorry for people, for even Jews who have no faith, because without Emunah (faith), I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed.”

This faith, rooted not in blind dogma but in a deep understanding of Jewish history and values, was a source of inspiration for the hosts as well. Lio, in particular, was moved by Rawan’s journey and the lessons it held for the Jewish people as a whole.

“I think everybody who feels that, who identifies with it, those are the people we’re after,” he said. “I put a little quote here from the introduction to the book of Zohar that was written 2000 years ago. It’s one of the things that influences our work.”

The quote, which Rawan read aloud, spoke to the fundamental purpose of creation and the unique role of the Jewish people in fulfilling that purpose:

“The Creator’s desired goal for the creation He had created is to bestow upon His creatures so they would know his truthfulness and greatness, and receive all the delight and pleasure he had prepared for them. Therefore, how can the sensation of the Godly and his bestowal apply to them? Humankind alone, having been prepared with the sensation of others of the same species, who are similar to them, after working in correcting their egoistic desires, when they invert their will to receive to a desire to bestow and achieve equivalence of form with their maker, they receive all the degrees that have been prepared for them in the upper worlds. By this they become qualified to receive the purpose of the thought of creation.”

For Rawan, this passage encapsulated the essence of what it means to be Jewish: to strive for unity, compassion, and spiritual growth, even in the face of adversity and hatred. “The power of Judaism is unbelievable,” she marveled, recounting the kindness and resilience she encountered on her first visit to Israel. “Even when I asked Naama Levy’s mother, who is a physician, whether she could ever forgive Arabs and find peace, she answered “I forgive Arabs. I am a physician. I am a doctor. My colleagues are Arabs. I treat Arabs every day. My problem is not with Arabs.”

This ability to distinguish between individuals and the hateful ideologies that sometimes consume them was a powerful lesson. As Seth pointed out, the true enemy is not any particular group or nation, but rather the darkness within the human heart that allows hatred and violence to flourish.

“Our enemies are always pointing at us and saying we’re the problem,” he reflected. “I think what happens when the light starts to shine, you can objectively see what’s what.”

This, ultimately, is the message of hope and unity that emerged from the discussion. The idea that by shining a light on the darkness, by reaching out to others with compassion and understanding, we can begin to heal the deep wounds that divide us and build a better world for all.

“Take the side of the good people who are trying to do something good for everyone,” Rawan urged. “This good side can also include cousins, can include people from Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t matter. And we’re going to find each other. We’re connecting the dots now, and then the light will grow.”

As the conversation drew to a close, Lio offered a final reflection that seemed to encapsulate the spirit of the entire discussion. “I don’t think our job is to eliminate the bad,” he mused, “but it’s to meet it with the good that’s greater. And everything else, nature, will take care of it. Nature, the Creator, however you want to call it. There are forces at work and we see them.”

Indeed, if there is one takeaway from this powerful and moving episode of the Jew Function, it is that the forces of light and unity are always at work, even in the darkest of times. By embracing our shared humanity, by reaching out to others with love and understanding, and by staying true to our deepest values and beliefs, we can all be part of the solution.

As Rawan so eloquently put it, “I want to leave you with a thought. I know that I’m not unique, I’m not special, many people are like me. I’m just given a character that’s fearless, but there are many others, trust me, who send me private messages. Take the side of the good people who are trying to do something good for everyone.”