Blood Drives & Bicycles

We are in a rare moment of Modern Jewish History and I just saw it this morning when riding an escalator.

Walking through a Jerusalem mall today, after 3 missile attacks yesterday, showed me reality in a new way. Fridays in any Israeli mall are crowded and noisy before the quiet of Shabbat, but even more so today, the 2^nd Day of Passover when it seems everyone is running back to buy even more necessities we thought we already bought before Passover.

Tomorrow is our youngest granddaughter’s 4^th birthday. We had delayed buying her birthday present for the last several weeks because we only left our apartment when it was necessary, hoping to correctly calculate the probability of a Siren warning us of an incoming Iranian or Hezbollah or Houthi missile (yes we have 3 enemies tying to kill us at the same time!) while also discussing where there were bomb shelters along the streets if we were not in the mall.

Today was our last day to buy her birthday present. We couldn’t disappoint her by explaining that we’re in the middle of a War and birthday gifts are a non-essential item and therefore she would have to wait. Try telling that to a 4 year old – or actually any child or adult in Israel. We all need presents and cake and balloons and more.

So we prepared ourselves not only for finding bomb shelters but maybe even more for the crazy traffic and the overcrowded mall. While Sam parked the car I took the elevator down to the basement floor where the toy store is – but also the same level as an enormous bomb shelter. Score – we got two at the same time.

As I went down the escalator the enormity of the resilience of the Jewish People was on full display to my right and my left.

On the right, a huge display of 100’s of shiny new bicylces in all sizes from toddler “Bimba” bikes to adult mountain bikes.

On the left was a Blood Drive by Mogen David Adom (Israel’s Red Cross – except that we don’t ignore Hostages…) administered by both Arab and Jewish volunteer Medics with a long line of people waiting to donate their blood.

This is the visual definition of cognitive dissonance. Conflicting facts held at the same time.

1. Israel is at war and when necessary we run to bomb shelters, now 100’s of times over the last 5 weeks at all hours of the day and night.
2. Israel is a beautiful country, it’s springtime now (Passover – Chag HaAviv, the Holiday of Spring). People enjoy riding bikes.
3. Israelis care about each other and others, enough to donate blood on a busy Friday in a mall with Arab blood techs putting needles in our arms.

By the time Sam found me in the toy store, he wondered what could have happened to make me have teary eyes. I simply said “Let’s walk to the escalator and look on both sides. “He immediately understood. And as we were standing there one of our daughter’s friends saw us and walked over with her Father, a prominent New York State former official here visiting his family. He said, “is this really happening? The mall is crowded? No one looks sad or scared. We have to tell this to the world!”

So in my own small way, I’m sharing this with you in the hope that it will convince you that while we Israelis are being targeted, we are not backing down. We are strong and united.

What can you do to help? Start planning your next visit or first visit to Israel within the next 12 months. Do you know that 80% of American Jews have never been to Israel?

Come here and see the every day heroes of all ages riding bikes and giving blood. We will welcome you with open arms and enjoy felafel or shwarma or ice cream but maybe not on a Friday in a crowded mall!