THANK YOU!!!

It’s no fun waking up from a deep sleep in the middle of the night and stumbling to a bomb shelter. It’s no picnic during the day either. Yet, for years what I have been experiencing for the past ten days was an almost daily occurrence for those residing in southern Israel and almost that long for the ones living in the Tel Aviv area. All became quite serious everywhere in Israel last Friday and we’re still in shut down today. No schools, no gatherings, no day care, no museums, no nature reserves, no theatres, no restaurants. The only shopping we can do is for food and thankfully the grocers remain well stocked. Despite being restless, concerned, and suffering from sleep deprivation, I feel positive. We know from world history a bully cannot be appeased. Israel and now The United States are doing their utmost to stop Iran from its evil terror. I am extremely thankful to the Almighty for all the success He has granted us. Yes, there have been painful moments and losses but there have been so many miracles. An office building was destroyed on a day no one was working. A synagogue was hit at the exact moment no one was praying there. Families leave their shelters to discover their homes in shambles but realize they are safe. May G-d continue to protect us. הודו לשם כי טוב, כי לעלום חסדו Give thanks to HaShem for He is good, His Kindness endures forever.

The High Dive

On Thursday morning, during the missile attack, this “little” piece of shrapnel fell at the entrance of Ariel, our closest town 21 kilometers away. Despite the possible danger, my husband and I ventured out of our bubble and made the twenty-minute drive to Ariel. I cannot say I wasn’t nervous. It was kind of like going up the high dive for the first time at the swimming pool of my youth. Each step up the ladder was a test of nerves and leaving the board for the water below was pure terror. Once I did it, though, and saw I survived, the next time was so much easier. Thankfully, we returned home safely without hearing any sirens and needing to run to a bomb shelter. Will it be easier next week? I pray it will. I pray HaShem grants us true peace along with total victory and there will be no reason for anyone to fear leaving home.

How are you?

That question, asked by caring friends and relatives across the ocean, is truly appreciated. Yet, I'm finding it a complicated one to answer. Except for exhaustion- it’s challenging to get a good night’s sleep when sirens keep me running for the shelter- I’m physically fine. Emotionally, well, I’ve been on a roller coaster the last four days. Here are some of my feelings: Awe we destroyed as much of Iran’s nuclear power that we did. Sorrow some precious souls have been lost and many, many injured by Iran. Concern for all the children without programs, friends and strangers stranded outside Israel. Regret that, despite the roads being open, I don’t feel comfortable traveling to see my children and grandchildren who do not live in Shilo. Disappointment at canceled plans. Worry about what will happen to the Israeli economy since everything- except for the essential services- are shut down. Appreciation to the supermarket workers, gas station attendants, and all the other essential employees. Along with them are the volunteers doing their best to improve our quality of life during this shutdown. Anxiety about upcoming attacks. Even though the rockets are not aimed at my tiny village, I hear plenty of booms which means Israel is intercepting the missiles. Falling shrapnel can be deadly, so I listen to the civil guard’s instructions. And of course, I’m distressed at what could be happening in the big population centers. Thankfulness I have a shelter in my house and a husband to share it with. Stressed with one son returning to Gaza leaving his wife and children to run to the shelter by themselves, a son-in-law in reserve duty means my daughter has to deal with her children and home front alone, another son on standby for reserve duty, a third on call as a volunteer fireman. My middle daughter works in ER in a centrally located hospital, and I can’t imagine what she sees there. All of them, all of the country, are dealing with children at home, challenges to their livelihoods, and all the above emotions. However, underlying all of this is the knowledge that we’re in HaShem’s hands. He has kept the Jewish people alive all these years and is not about to stop doing so now. The end will be good. I pray it won’t be too painful to get there.

Futility

This is probably an exercise in futility. Those who want to believe the fake news that smears Israel will continue to do so no matter what I write. Still, in light of the flotilla fiasco, I feel compelled to write something. One could ask how I know which news is fake news. That’s a fair question and truthfully, I can only write about what I personally know. Six months ago, when we accompanied our son back to the loading zone outside Gaza, we were told in no uncertain terms we’d come as far as we could. I accepted the directive without question. Later my son told us that the officer giving the order thought we were part of the protestors trying to stop the humanitarian aid Israel was sending into Gaza. Why would any compassionate person want to do this? Because it infuriates him to send food to our enemies while they are holding our hostage in tunnels. Because she sees the absurdity of aiding the enemy who is trying, with all their might, to destroy us. Because he knows that no other country is expected to send food to the country they are at war with. Because it’s clear Hamas can solve the hunger program IF they want to. If They Want To! That’s the question. To quote Golda Meir: "If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel." Unfortunately, much of the world doesn’t believe this. Here in Israel, we know it’s true and we will do whatever it takes to end this war with a true victory, instead of a flimsy ceasefire that will be broken a couple of years down the line. Therefore, we are forced to send our children to war, fight public opinion, and pray with all our might for a true and lasting peace.

Coping

My cousin in America asked an anguished question following the Washington DC murders last week. Where is the outrage? I immediately remembered what I wrote eleven years ago in reaction to the brutal murders of the Fogel family. While we in Israel were numb with shock and grief, much of the world ignored our pain. Friends in America emailed me that they had found the story on the third or back page of their papers. Of course, the earthquake in Japan was much bigger news and the death of 25,000 cannot compare to the murder of five. But no one was celebrating the deaths of those 25,000. And the Arabs were celebrating the murders of Rut, Udi, and their three children. Growing up in the aftermath of World War Two, I had blithely thought antisemitism had disappeared from the world. When my neighbor, Raquela Druck was murdered in an Arab terror attack 34 years ago my world turned upside down. Since October 7th, I understand many American Jews are just as traumatized as I was then. It seems to me the difference is that I know who hates me and in America lots of so-called friends became enemies overnight. How can we handle so much hatred? The only way I can cope is knowing life is on two planes: this world and the world to come. I don’t want my sons – or anyone’s children- in Gaza fighting for our very survival. I don’t like worrying that our loved ones might be shot to death traveling the roads like Tze’ela Gez was when she was on her way to the delivery room. It pains me that my grandchildren and others have to run for shelter every time the Houthis fire rockets at us. Still, I believe that everything G-d does is good so eventually we will understand all the evil has truly been for our benefit. I pray that day will come immediately. May we hear good news. Please!!!

Nakba Day

Sadly, tragically, there was no miracle for Tze'ela Gez. Nine months pregnant with her fourth child, on the way to the hospital with her husband, she was murdered in a shooting attack not far from her home. Her husband is injured and her baby delivered before she left this world. Reports say the baby is in stable condition and that is miraculous, even though she does not have a mother. This shooting occurred on the day the Arab world is commemorating Nakba (Catastrophe) Day. And what catastrophe are they remembering? The day Israel became an independent state. For the Arab world this was a disaster, a major tragedy. Think about it. With 22 countries of their own they could not countenance Jews having even ONE. The “spiral of violence” is a false narrative that the West has swallowed. Truth is the Arab extremists want Israel -and its citizens- wiped off the face of the earth. Tze'ela Gez is the latest victim of their hate. May she be the last. Meanwhile, we will not stop protecting ourselves. There is no genocide. Only self-defense.

Sirens

 

It was surrealistic. As my husband and I drove down Al Maqdesi Road on our way to the Kotel a siren sounded. Ten minutes earlier we’d seen and heard an ambulance and knew this was different, an air raid siren. Plus, my husband’s app announced we had a minute and a half to get to a shelter. But where? And how?   

Living in Shilo we have had only sirens twice in the last nineteen months of the war. Both times were at home, and it was simple to enter our shelter. This morning we were ducks out of water and not sure what to do.

The obvious action would have been to stop the car and seek shelter, but traffic, as can be seen in this photo, continued as normal. We saw two teenagers lifting their phones to the sky, most probably hoping to catch a shot of the Houthi missile. Pedestrians continued on their way to wherever they were going.

Finally, my husband spotted a parking spot. We exited our car and stood against a wall feeling rather silly. In the end, our action was unnecessary since the missile was intercepted outside Israeli territory. It was the third fired at Israel in a 24-hour period. Thankfully, none hit their mark.  May the miracles continue.