Yesterday, during my morning prayers in Jerusalem celebrating the holiday of Simchat Torah, the air raid sirens went off. I ran to find my children to take them to the bomb shelter. In the confusion, I lost my middle daughter, Paz.
My son was shaking and I held him. I just kept telling him, everything is okay.
50 miles away from us, hundreds of terrorists went door to door in over 22 towns killing parents and kidnapping children, dragging them back to Gaza.
They mowed down teenagers in a field, stripped their corpses, and paraded them through the streets.
I have seen the videos of mothers holding their children being taken to Gaza and I know they were telling their children, it is going to be okay. But, it is not okay. It never was okay and now it is clear, it will not be okay.
Israel is at war and the streets of Jerusalem are empty. For the first time, Israelis have to watch what the enemy is capable of. For the first time, Israelis and Jews are thinking, maybe it will not be okay.
My Paz was found shortly after we left the shelter. Someone saw her confused and pulled here into a different shelter. But, for so many mothers and fathers, they did not find their children.
At this moment there are over 50 men, women, and children kidnapped by Gaza terrorists. The terrorists have already committed atrocities that would make ISIS cringe.
Since the Jerusalem Massacre in 1920 (260 Jews murdered), Hebron Massacre in 1929 (69 Jews were murdered), and the thousands of brutal attacks since then, Israelis have believed that one day, it will be okay. We will live in peace side by side with our cousins. Israelis offered peace plan after peace plan and each was rejected. Then, the Oslo accords, and finally, giving the land of Gaza to the Palestinians, who promptly elected Hamas. After each concession, Israelis believed that this time, it would be okay.
Yesterday, on Simchat Torah, a day of happiness and dancing, we spent the were huddled in a bomb shelter and Israelis spent the day fighting for their lives.
Today, we woke up in a different world where we can no longer pretend that it will be okay. I hope that Israel has the courage and resolution to do what needs to be done.
Otherwise, telling our children that it will be okay, will be hollow words, indeed.
Chazak V'amatz
Saturday night in an empty Jerusalem
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Thanks, Eli. Glad you and your family are safe. I hope you’ll be able to provide more info/context/reporting as able or when you’re back in the US. Be well.
@Eli Albrecht, thanks for your on-the-scene reporting. I am so glad Paz was found safe! I hope there is a rapid end to this war, and will be praying for peace.