Posts
I’ve not posted my thoughts here for a while. With the passage of time, the challenges to both Israel and world Jewry have become increasingly splintered and even more overwhelming than before.
I need to visit a bereaved family whose son was furloughed for the weekend. He passed away in his sleep from a medical condition at his parents’ home. Why don’t you join me for the walk over there?
My street isn’t long; it’s all of 260 metres (850 feet), but that’s precisely why it’s worth you coming along.
Leaving my building, we exit to the street. Like so many buildings in the neighbourhood, ours has adopted the cause of a hostage, Eitan Horn, whose likeness hangs on our gate for all to see and remember.
On the street corner, yellow ribbons have been tied around a sign post, keeping all the missing hostages in our minds, much the same way that tzitzit keep the mitzvot in the minds of the observant.
On the neighbour’s wall, opposite my house, is a temporary public cardboard sign affixed by the municipality - one and a half years ago – directing pedestrians to the nearest public bomb shelter. This is unbelievably still relevant; we had four air raid sirens this week.
Glancing at the line of cars parked along the curb, we notice that many are adorned with yellow ribbons on their door handles and side mirrors, or stickers representing public sentiment.
“God willing, together we will win”, states this blue message.
Especially poignant is the next sticker, with an image of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Hersh was executed in a tunnel by his Hamas captors at point blank range shortly before his designated release date in a hostage deal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_and_killing_of_Hersh_Goldberg-Polin
A high-profile captive, the failure to free him remains a stinging, open wound in the public consciousness. But there are many others still held captive in a similar (or worse) predicament that we must lobby/fight for.
Within a few steps, more signs tell the tale of our times.
The image of a young Israeli soldier takes centre stage in this ageing sticker, which is already starting to peel.
Above the image is a quote taken from a military song:
“Jerusalem, guards have been posted for you, and when the time comes, I will be one of them.” (my translation).
The soldier is identified as ‘Sergeant First Class Ben Zussman, Deceased”.
(The actual words used are ‘Sergeant First Class Ben Zussman, May his blood be avenged’.).
I look him up on the net. A Jerusalem native, Ben was killed in action in December 2024, more than 6 months ago.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/sgt-first-class-ben-zussman-committed-to-fighting-for-israel/
For the next 100 metres we pass more yellow ribbons, stickers and Israeli flags. A large sign flaps in the wind at the entrance to a well-heeled home.
‘The Voice of Our Soldiers’ Blood is Calling Out’
The poster is signed by a group called:
Sharing (the burden of military) Service
Religious Women for Recruitment to the IDF
I take the opportunity to find out more. The group has a Facebook page in Hebrew, and I log into it.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502263620408207/about
Below is my translation of the mission statement posted on their page:
“As mothers, wives and families of men who study Torah, we demand that all Israeli citizens, and especially men from all sectors of society who study Torah, participate in the fighting and shoulder the burden together with all Israelis at this critical time.
We, religious women, demand that our representatives in the Knesset ensure that the Security Service Law is enforced and that draft orders be sent to all those obligated for conscription!
The IDF and the government are responsible for ensuring that anyone who violates this law, despite receiving a draft order, suffers financial and other consequences, without discrimination between citizens.”
With so many friends and family members on their fifth tour of reserve duty in Gaza since the war began, I have a lot of sympathy for this group. Their message touches on so many issues: sanctioned draft dodging, government funding of non-employed members of society, political alliances and jockeying at the expense of the public, and more. In particular, it directly drives these women who are holding together families, homes and businesses while their husbands are away serving at the front, not to mention themselves being on the domestic front lines by helping their spouses re-acclimate to normal life after combat.
One little poster, such a big message.
Across the street, another poster stands proudly over a private yard.
The text is illustrated with an eye-catching photo of a religious soldier with a long beard.
Judith’s Challas
The Challas for Soldiers Project
Together with Israeli Children
Gourmet challas are baked here
for combat soldiers
with love
Your assistance is welcome for:
Preparation
Transportation
Donations
All help accepted with gratitude
I peek into the yard to see what’s going on. This is one of so many grassroots projects aimed at showing love and encouraging our young men who are laying their lives on the line. It helps them to know that they are appreciated. It makes us all feel connected. Because the greatest source of depression and helplessness is feeling you are going it alone.
We're almost at the end of the street. Twenty metres away, on the next corner, is a building I’ve walked past for years but never before entered. The sign at above the entrance announces:
One Family
Overcoming Terror Together
I open the door and peek in. I’m greeted by a memorial display of red flowers (anemones).
A small card explains the significance of the display.
(My translation)
Anemones Before the Rain
Made with love
in the course of the war by thousands of volunteers
as a memorial to those murdered on the ‘Black Shabbat’
and those who fell in the ensuing battles
7.10.23
Anemones Before the Rain
The One Family website is clear and worth looking at.
https://onefamilytogether.org/en/about-us-2/
Note that I have never had contact with this group and am learning about them together with you now.
This has been a very short walk, but so indicative of life here today.
You can leave me now if you like, as I continue on to make my shiva call. The next few streets are likewise covered in ribbons and stickers.
At my destination I start climbing the stairs and pass other friends who have come to comfort the bereaved family. But before I get to the first floor, my phone emits a noise, sounding an alarm. Outside, an air-raid siren howls loud and clear in the streets. I turn around and join the sudden flow of people coming down the stairs to the building's bomb shelter. I find somewhere to sit in the sparse, dank room while others stand nervously. Most people stare at their phones, searching the Home Command app for details of the incoming strike. Unlike a year ago, the missiles these days are a gift from the Houthis in Yemen.
“Boom, Boom!”
The explosions of our interceptor missiles can be heard – and felt – over a large area. The incoming missiles are ballistic, and they operate at a high altitude. Hearing the interceptor booms calms me.
By now you have moved your focus to other things. I go home and have my dinner in front of the TV news. A report catches my eye.
An 18 year old named Matan Gross is being interviewed about a song he wrote in memory of his parents, a 46 year old Israeli couple who were killed when a Hezbollah missile, launched from Lebanon, hit their car in the Golan just under a year ago. Matan has committed to taking care of his two younger brothers.
The story is heartrending (especially the Hebrew article in the second link).
https://www.jns.org/two-israelis-critically-wounded-in-hezbollah-rocket-salvo/
https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rynacx2da
Thanks for joining me today. And if you were going to ask me how’s life in Israel these days, now you know.
