I’ve being supporting my Jewish friend who I’ve known for almost 10 years now for the past two weeks. Spoken to her more than I usually do In two months. Just listening and validating what’s she been feeling.

I’ve never seen her cry, not once in all the time I’ve known her. She was also upset over other people blocking her and her other two best friends ( who also used to be my old best friends) not even messaging her either.

I’ve tried to be a neutral space, but I feel like a fraud because my thoughts are different to hers. I do feel like she would stop talking to me if I publicly shared a charity link for aid, because it would be seen as me “picking a side”. So I did it anyway, but hid it from her. Visible to close friends only.

It is a privilege to be able to just close the app and turn off the laptop. To ignore the horrors unfolding because it doesn’t affect me directly.

I want to do more than just donate. I did look up how I could help, but the main UK charity said they want 5 full years of clinical experience which I don’t have yet.