**Recent Embassy Staff Killings Intensify Jewish Community's Unease in America**

The killings of two staff members from the Israeli Embassy have added to the growing sense of unease among American Jews, amplifying the confusion that has permeated the community since the attack on October 7, 2023. Rabbi Ruth Balinsky Friedman, who teaches Jewish text at a high school in the Washington, D.C., area, has felt increasingly isolated as an American Jew in recent years. The recent attacks have only deepened her feelings of disorientation.

The situation began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking a wave of retaliatory strikes from Israel on Gaza. These events triggered worldwide debates over the origins of the conflict and hold various parties accountable, adding to an already complex and distressing situation for many Jews. Rabbi Friedman, a 40-year-old mother of three, finds herself bewildered, uncertain of what lies ahead and struggling to see a clear path to peace.

Adding to her distress, a shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum this past Wednesday has left Rabbi Friedman feeling even more disoriented. The violence has not only reinforced her sense of isolation but also complicated the discourse around Jewish safety and belonging in America.

This series of tragic events continues to strain the global Jewish community, highlighting the broader issues and divisions that remain unresolved. As the world contends with the implications of these incidents, individuals like Rabbi Friedman are left grappling with profound questions about safety, identity, and the future.