Friday, March 9, 2012
It’s a beautiful sunny day in Israel, my guests Scott and Patty have arrived from the US to visit and tour Israel with me for a couple of weeks. It’s going to be a light day of sightseeing around Kfar Sava today because it is the last day of Purim and we are entering into Shabbat. Stores close early, and families begin to gather together for the Shabbat dinner.
We pick up my dear friend Adriane, and head out for a drive along the borders of Kfar Saba and a portion of the green line. Adriane explains how very narrow the line is between Palestinians and Israeli’s living in surrounding neighborhoods. We make our way from the Green Line separating Kfar Sava and Palestinian Arab communities to Israeli Arab communities. We marvel at the beauty of the architecture, and the diversity of how the women are dressed. Not all are wearing a hajib, some look very Israeli. As we make the short drive back to Adriane, we notice the beautiful sunset over the agricultural fields.
We arrive at Adriane’s where we have coffee and tea and welcome Shabbat in. First the lighting of candles, then Adriane sings the prayer for the Kidush. Next Scott says the traditional prayer that a husband says to his wife. It’s Proverbs 31: 10 – 31, then Adriane follows with the blessing of the bread. We sit down to eat the treasures from our day. After a couple hours of talking about coexistence, animals and Adriane’s life in Israel, we head home. I return back to Adriane’s for the evening, Scott and Patty get some much needed rest at their apartment.
Kfar Sava with Green line
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Sunset over the fields
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Scott Tani & Patty
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Then in a moment everything changes.
I start receiving reports of rocket attacks in Southern Israel. My mind runs to my dear friend Kobi Harush, who I had just been thinking about earlier in the evening. I look over the Israeli news, first it’s 50 rockets, then 80, I immediately send an SMS to my friend.
Kobi responds with: Hi Tani, I thank you for calling, we are under an attack it’s difficult but we are strong through this.
My heart is sinking and all I want to do is jump in the car and be with the people of Israel in the south. Finally, it’s 2 Am and I fall asleep.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
I awaken Saturday morning to an SMS from another friend, whose son was caught in an attack Friday night in Beersheva. He was on his way home from visiting friends and had to run for cover. He had four grad rockets land near where he was. He also says the media is guessing at the numbers as they have heard at least a 100 explosions. This young man is an IDF soldier stationed in the area. Once again, my heart sinks. All I can think about is what must be going through the mind of his father and mother.
Updates keep rolling in and the rocket attacks are still falling. It’s weird, because here in Kfar Saba, a health parade was taking place. Friends were at the beach and I slept most of the day due to illness. Meanwhile, terrorists in Gaza are trying to wear down the people in southern Israel and then have the audacity to blame Israel for it.
The video below was recorded by a citizen living in the southern region. It is the siren they hear, please will you take time to watch and listen to this video. You will hear the family, in the background towards the end speaking in hebrew. Listen carefully to the sound of the voices. Then do me a favor, listen to this a few more times in a row. I wonder how many can listen to it 100x? You will, for a moment, get an idea of what these families are going through.
Israel has the power and might to take out all of the terrorists in Gaza and stop these senseless acts. My hope is they will not worry about the world powers and “Just Do It”.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54n8cAhP9OE&feature=BFa&list=UUawNWlihdgaycQpO3zi-jYg&lf=plcp[/youtube]
Below are the news reports & IDF update:
Some 100 rockets hit Israel since Friday
IDF strikes Gaza targets, kills PRC member
To learn more about Kfar Saba click here