Just a few days ago, I was a witness to terrorism first-hand. I was in an ice cream store in Jerusalem with a few friends and another group of college-aged girls in an enclosed seating section of the store, when an approximately 5-year-old Arab-looking boy slid open the door, dropped a small, white pill inside, shut the door and ran out. For a few seconds, we all sat in confused silence as we tried to understand what had just occurred, while simultaneously watching the boy outside laughing hysterically at the group of us. We all quickly got up to exit the area and notify the store manager, who assured us that he would come investigate. After a few moments, somebody had the nerve to step in quickly to retrieve her things and noticed that the white tablet was dissolving into a puddle; the pill that we all jumped to conclude was a bomb, chas v’shalom, was nothing more than a white Tic Tac.
We collectively exhaled and laughed out of relief, the uneasiness settling in our stomachs, yet all nodded in agreement when one girl verbalized that “that was terrorism, right there!” The unfortunate reality that one suspiciously acting boy and a tiny object had the power to make six people jump out of their seats in fear is an actual act of terrorism, and is what we in Israel live with, and in threat of, daily. No matter the abundance of American products, advanced technology and modern society, Israel is the one place where we will always have the necessary conscious awareness that we stand out as proud Jews and are living day to day only under God’s protection.
In a similar and more serious vein, however, the reality of the ongoing attacks throughout the year has caused all who live here to readjust not only our mindset towards security, but to reevaluate our traveling habits as well. Those who are accustomed to traveling alone now tend to stick with others and even to “safe places” as well, let alone those that have been dubbed objectively dangerous. Some may even avoid areas over the green line completely. Both by schools and parents, restrictions have been placed and removed on-and-off throughout the past months as to where students are allowed to travel for Shabbos, which has added much to the renewed awareness of the possible dangers, lo aleinu.
Checking the news multiple times daily has become a trend, often expected to be followed by the response, “What happened today?” Understandably, nervous parents based in the US have been found to text their child about a recent terror attack with a warning of where not to go, before the student is even aware of the attack herself. Even passing an Arab woman on the roads today leads to an involuntary cringe of fear and a quick crossing of the street.
Pepper spray sales have skyrocketed throughout the country and even America over the course of the year, though I personally find it useless to carry one; I am more likely to spray it at myself than at the Arab on the off chance that I have it ready in time. However, many do carry it for their own psychological well-being, adults and students alike. There is no doubt that we are in the ik’veta d’meshicha, on the heels of the coming of Mashiach, during the final war between the Yishmaelim (Arabs) and Yehudim (Jews).
On the other hand, throughout it all, there are always those who have maintained the position of “not letting those Arabs control our lives” and who proceed along their usual schedule with confidence and caution, as always—a position espoused and applauded by some and thought of as reckless by others. Though the amount of caution to take and restrictions to place upon oneself are individual decisions, the attitude of chazak chazak v’nitchazek, to be strong and we will be strengthened, is one that is evident throughout the country—Chiloni (secular), Da’ati Leumi (religious and pro-state) and Chareidi (ultra-Orthodox) alike. Despite the few attacks that unfortunately occur all too often, we must never forget the thousands of Jews leading normal, vibrant and successful lives daily, as well!
By Rachel Goldberg
Rachel Goldberg is a local resident and New Jersey yeshiva day-school graduate who is studying in Israel for her gap year.
