Sometimes Happiness Really Only Costs Five Shekels

Ten days into this war with Iran, Israel is tired. Tired of the sirens that come at all hours of the day and night. Tired of the lack of sleep when our phones go off alerting us of possible incoming missile attacks. Tired of the non-stop news cycles of impacts and injuries.

Even when things seem to be quiet for a while, there is a tension in the air that never quite goes away. People move through their days, never straying too far from the safety of our safe rooms.

It would be strange if these past ten days did not affect us.

And yet, unfortunately, we’re no strangers to these difficult times. For me, these past ten days have been spent speaking to many people across the country. And I’ve heard the same thing again and again. People are just on edge; and that is completely normal.

That uneasy feeling that we’ve all had since waking up that sleepy Shabbat morning a week ago isn’t reserved to those few who have been directly hurt by missile impacts. We all are feeling the weight of the war on our shoulders. That nervous energy, exhaustion and anxiety.

At United Hatzalah, our Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit has been working around the clock helping people who are experiencing anxiety and emotional shock. A few days ago, the head of the unit Hadas Rucham released a short public service video offering some simple advice that stayed with me.

During times like this, we must be intentional about taking care of ourselves. Not only physically, but mentally as well.

Sometimes that means stepping away for a moment. Listening to music relaxes you. Taking a short walk. Having a cup of coffee with someone you trust. Focusing on the present instead of letting the mind race ahead to every possible scenario.

They are small things, but they matter.

This past week has also been extremely difficult, both personally as well as for the entire United Hatzalah organization. Last Sunday, on Day 2 of Operation Roaring Lion we lost a dedicated ‘Heroine in Orange’ and for me a close friend, Ronit Elimelech, Z”L. Ronit not only was a member of our United Hatzalah family, she was a dedicated mother and daughter, who did anything and everything for her family; including joining United Hatzalah at the behest of her son. This loss hit me very hard.

So, in that very spirit, inspired by Ronit’s commitment to her family, I decided today that I was going to treat my own family to some quality TLC, tender loving care.

Our grandchildren, like every child in Israel right now, hear the sirens too. They see the adults rushing toward safe rooms. They feel the same tension we all feel. So I decided the grandparents needed to step in for a little extra attention.

Nothing dramatic. Just an hour or so of fun together.

We took them out for what we jokingly called a “Disney adventure.”

Our destination, the local mall in Jerusalem. Each grandchild was allowed to choose one small toy from the toy store. You would have thought they were selecting from one of the world’s most valued jewels. The deliberations were serious. The negotiations rivaled those on the television show Shark Tank.

From there we went to what we told called “the zoo.” In reality it, was just a small pet shop, but to them it felt like a safari. They stood there fascinated by the fish tanks and laughed watching the birds chirping and flutter around their cages. And of course, there had to be food. The afternoon of fun with Grandma and Grandpa, or Papa and Baba in our case, we had a delicious food court dinner with a monster helping of cotton candy for dessert.

For the kids and even for us, these few hours, we thankfully had no sirens. Didn’t look at our phones for war updates. And just enjoyed the here and now, free of the world’s tensions.

Everyone needs moments like this right now.

I know that they do not change the reality we are living through. This remains a difficult and serious time for Israel. Our United Hatzalah volunteers are still responding to emergencies across the country every day, sometimes while the sirens are still echoing in the background.

But just for one small moment we all need that escape to normal life so we can continue fighting the good fight.

Now we return to the difficult work ahead. But moments like these give us strength. They remind us that even in the middle of fear and uncertainty, life continues.

And sometimes, happiness really is costs just five shekels.