Israel is at war. Most of my day, in between doing my usual things (like working at The Link), I find myself constantly checking my phone to see if there is anything new happening. I am excited for the courageousness of the people of Israel and the immense planning and precise decisions being made by the Israel armed forces together with Mr. Netanyahu and his team. At the same time I am petrified for everyone, wondering whether the next time, the Iron Dome might miss its interception, as it has a few times. Any life lost is one too many.

Yesterday I spoke with a friend in Rehovot who told me that he has six grandchildren fighting at this time. Family after family, some widows trying to raise their children after losing a spouse in Gaza or at Nova or anywhere. I watch families here trying to escort their children into their car after being in the park; as one child runs away, another is pushing and shoving his sibling, and both parents are having difficulties in managing such an innocuous situation. Two parents together are having a hard time and husbands and or wives in Israel are now finding themselves in situations where by themselves they need to grab their children and run into their shelter as soon as they hear the signal or keep them entertained all day as schools are closed. What different worlds we live in.

Especially when I read the many people posting about their private concerns: “I have tickets to leave for Israel on August 23. Do you think my flight will go?” “My son is in Israel. How can I get him home?” “We were thinking of going to Israel for Chanukah. Is it safe for us to go then and should we refund our tickets now?” On and on the posts keep coming. One thing that I can assure everyone: Once this craziness is over, Israel will need every single tourist to come and support their economy, which once again is facing a downward spiral as so many businesses are closed. It will be our job to go and bring happiness to Israel by shopping in their stores, eating in their restaurants, staying in hotels, and helping and volunteering in every way possible.

For those who are stranded in different places due to their flights having been rerouted at the beginning of this war, it is obviously a pain in the neck. Yet, is it as bad as what the people of Israel are going through now? We have so much to be proud of when we see how communities across the globe are coming together to provide housing, food and other needs to those who are temporarily displaced. What other people in the world would take such good care of their brothers and sisters?

I just heard a story today of a wedding that was supposed to have taken place on Wednesday evening. The bride is from Denver and her chatan is in Israel. Most of her family members flew to Israel last week to be there in time for the celebration. Guess who never made it past Newark Airport? The kallah is now stranded here because her flight was cancelled and she never made it to Israel. He’s there and she’s here! Quite a story for them to tell their children when they eventually are reunited and do make it to the chuppah together.

The seminary students who have not made it home will have stories to tell their children one day of how they were in Israel during a war and what they saw and how they spent their time. Many are volunteering to do good and others are on their phones 20 hours a day with their parents trying to figure out a miraculous way for them to leave Israel. I even heard of parents of young seminary students who are encouraging their daughters to leave via Jordan. How nuts is that? They are much safer staying in Israel than traipsing through the Jordanian desert. All of these teens are learning important life lessons and although it is not anything that we would wish upon anyone, they will come out stronger and with a great feeling of pride. (I hope that their parents make it.)

I remember when my newly married daughter and her hubby were at Gruss together during the Scud missile attacks. It was in 1991 that Iraq (another good friend of ours) started to blast attacks into Israel. My kids (newly married) stayed in Israel with no pressure from home to return, and as the BMT dorm emptied out as nervous parents opted to bring their sons home, my kids were able to benefit from the amazing stock of American products that were left in the dorm rooms. Still, to this day there are those who believe that Israel is a poor nation that does not have the same quality grocery products as the good old USA. There is very little that you cannot get there. The Old World mentality of Israel being a poor nation can be quickly corrected by anyone who has been there in the last 20 years. Nevertheless there are still kids going who are stocking up on some “necessary” American products.

I do feel guilty partaking in everyday normal activities without having to be concerned about the safety of living in the United States while so much is going on in Israel. I find that one of the best things that I can do is to call my friends there as often as possible to keep in touch and let them know I am with them as much as I can be. We need to begin planning our trips to Israel as soon as this mess is over, and we need to pray to Hashem that he should help direct those missiles towards every evil-spirited person in the land of Iran. Don’t kid yourself. The ayatollah and his cronies need to be wiped out so that the world never hears from or sees them again.