Tzevah Adom

Tzevah Adom - red alert is what one hears over a loud speaker once a missile has been picked up on radar and fired.  In some places it is not a voice shouting "tzevah adom," but rather an air raid siren.  Apparently, people have 15 seconds to make it to a bomb shelter or safe room, however, the time is even less for those that live fewer than 1 kilometers from Gaza.

Can you imagine having to act in 15 seconds?

I am not sure that any of us can truly grasp the nature of hearing that siren. All I  can even think to compare it to are the tornado and storm sirens that we hear throughout the spring, but how many of us really stop to head the warning?

I can't even imagine hearing a tzevah adom call at 3 am and have to react and get all 3 kids, myself, Lee, and the dog into a safe room in a matter of 15 seconds.  Besides panicking yourself, you may have a crying child, frightened kids, etc...  then you have to sit and wait.

Sadly, this is what those living in southern Israel have had to deal with for 12 years. It is  crazy to me that Israel disengaged from Gaza, uprooted whole communities and cities, and left their settlements intact for Gazans, but those were soon destroyed and the rockets soon started flying.

Imagine if your child  couldn't play outside, couldn't ride their bike around the block, play soccer in an open space - why? Because you need to make sure that child is always within 15 seconds of a bomb shelter or safety room.

Sadly, there is a generation in Israel's south in places like Sderot or Netivot who never get to play outside.  These same kids suffer from post traumatic stress and are always tense and nervous.

While visiting Southern Israel, I heard from a 16 year old girl who told her family they needed to go north during "pillar of defense," because she could not handle staying.   On their way north the sirens were blaring as they approached Ashdod and Ashkelon.  I heard from 10 and 11 year olds who spent hours in the safe room or in shelters with crying siblings and nervous parents.  They did not go to school during the operation because it was too dangerous to be on the road.

For now, the rockets have stopped. But, these kids and their families always live with the fear that the rockets will come back.  They live with the aftermath of friends homes that were hit or find small shrapnel left from rockets that did not hit targets.

Amazingly, Israelis are resilient.  They look out for one another and make sure others are safe.  And they are thankful, thankful for the support and solidarity that comes from the North American Jewish  community.  It doesn't feel like enough to just be here, but I hope that my presence and the presence of my community speaks volumes.  I hope that the bubbles I blew today with the Ethiopian preschoolers brought some comfort and fun to them.

At dinner tonight, one of the Otzma fellows shared that the people he works with in Netivot appreciate the visits and feel that those who are showing support take away just a little over their burden.  Perhaps this is like the Talmudic teaching, when you visit someone who is sick, you take away 1/60th of their illness.  Perhaps I was able to take away 1/60th of their burden and fear.