A Stranger Dragged Me to Safety; It’s The Most Intimate Moment I’ve Had All Year

You know what really sets the tone for a great Friday? Being violently yanked out of your sleep and dropped straight into reality at 5 AM by a siren. That’s how my day started. I opened one eye, cursed in three languages, and prayed it was just a test.

Spoiler: it wasn’t.

I sat up in bed, dazed and disoriented, my heart pounding like it was trying to escape my chest. And just when I thought maybe it was a one-time thing… the sirens wailed again.

Half-functioning, I dragged myself to work. The world doesn’t pause because rockets are flying overhead. No. It continues and moves forward.

Work was a blur. A weird blend of exhaustion, routine and anxiety. I wasn’t really there—I was somewhere else, half asleep.

And then came the grocery store.

I walked in hoping to grab a few essentials—maybe something sweet, because let’s be honest, I deserved a little treat after the day I’d had. I was mid-aisle when the sirens screamed again.

But this time, I wasn’t alone.

A woman I’d never seen in my life, took my hand in hers without hesitation. She didn’t ask if I was okay. She didn’t panic. She just dragged me through the yogurt aisle and into the bomb shelter tucked behind the produce section like it was the most normal thing in the world. I didn’t catch her name, but she had strong maternal energy and the stride of a woman who’s seen some things. Other shoppers followed us.

So there we were—a bunch of strangers squeezed into one large room, trying not to topple over each other.

Naturally, I did what any rational, emotionally stable person would do in a high-stress situation like this.

I took a selfie.

And not just any selfie—a full-fledged, look-how-cute-I-am, duck face, selfie.

But it wasn’t over. Oh no. I then turned the camera and took a photo of the strangers.

When the sirens stopped and we emerged, the stranger who grabbed my hand, gave me a kind smile and disappeared before I could thank her properly.

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about life in Haifa. The way fear and kindness coexist. The way strangers become protectors. The way you can be shaken and still show up—at work, at the market, in life.

Here’s to the 5 AM sirens, the zombie walks to work, and the unexpected grace of a hand reaching for yours when you need it most.

What did I learn?

In Haifa, you always wear good lipstick. You always know where the nearest shelter is. And when life throws missiles at your head, you better have your camera ready—because if we’re going down, we’re going viral.

Stay bold. Stay beautiful. Stay safe.

– Sassy in Haifa