Piercing the Night

Our town made the news after the barrage of ballistic missiles from Iran. The last time we made the news was for excellence in education. This time, it’s horrible, but it could have been worse. No lives have been reported lost here so far. (The Times of Israel: Hod Hasharon says many homes in city damaged by shock waves, shrapnel from Iran attack)

Pieces of a ballistic missile fell less than half a kilometer from where we live, and even further up our street (away from the site), there was quite some damage done. You can see how Israelis come together in times of hardship when the neighborhood cafe had its glass blown out completely. It is full of people wanting to support the business and the community; everyone is talking and checking in with everyone else.

I swear, half of our building (which is right across the street) was at the cafe, checking in on each other and grabbing as much normalcy as we could during these times.

A fire started where the ballistic missile pieces fell, and the smoke was pretty strong near us. Parts of last night and yesterday felt like a cross between a war zone (which last night definitely counted as one), a wildfire (like in California), and an earthquake with all the shockwaves that rattled and destroyed parts of our neighborhood and our beloved eccentric city.

We will not let Iran, or any proxy terrorist organization, take our dignity or our humanity, even when they try to prove that they can terrorize us and that our community, our nation, and our Family will not stand for it. Instead, we double down on our efforts to remove the problems and live in peace.

That’s all we and most people around us, even those who don’t share our faiths or our views want: peace. That most elusive of birds, peace, is like a ray of light in an ocean of darkness, taking refuge in one tiny place of peace amidst the ongoing ravages.

Every time I drop off my kids at their schools, I thank our G-d/the gods that our community is full of people of all different types, whether it’s Jews, Muslims, Christians, atheists, and all others who want to have a healthy, happy, long life.

Just maybe not so long as this lovely 94-year-old I met yesterday. I was enjoying a moment of calm chatting with this lady who grew up in The Bronx. She and I were having a good day and enjoying the unexpected companionship of one another for a little bit (at this lovely new bagel shop in Kenyon Naimi in Netanya!); I had no idea that as we were talking, my kids and husband were running to their protected spaces at work and at school. “Savta Chana,” as she called herself, seemed to believe no one should live that long because it becomes more painful, physically and emotionally.

May we find joy in our days, peace in our nights, and kindredhood with all our neighbors. Shana tova to all. May this new year bring only Blessings for all.