metro >> Detroiters in Israel

Israel

Sol'clar'ty

With summer travel and programs in full swing,
Detroiters are experiencing the country at war.

Keri Guten Cohen I Story Development Editor

I

srael at war. It's happened before and
it will likely happen again, but when
war coincides with your family visit,
Birthright trip, a teen program or study
abroad in Israel, the reality of what life
is like for Israelis confronts you head on.
Though it's hard to determine num-
bers, if you count the more than 100
Detroiters on Federation's Teen Mission,
close to 200 Detroiters may be visiting
Israel now. Most of the youth programs
have moved to the safety of Israel's
north. But other Detroiters, along with
Israelis, are running to shelters when
sirens blare.
None of those interviewed wanted to
come home. All exuded pride in stand-
ing with Israelis in this troubled time.
Here are their stories in their words:

Sammi Fine of
West Bloomfield
is in Tel Aviv.

Jerusalem Pretty Quiet

Ari Cicurel, 21, West Bloomfield,
U-M senior, Jerusalem
I'm in Jerusalem doing security research
on various internal security services,
including the Shin Bet for the Israel
Democracy Institute.
Where I am in the center of Jerusalem
has been relatively quiet besides one rock-
et attack. (As he was messaging, another
siren sounded.)
More noticeable in Jerusalem are the
protests from every side of the aisle, from
anti-Arab protests after the boys died to
peace protests calling on both sides to stop
fighting.

Not Living In Fear

Sammi Fine, 22, West Bloomfield,
Tel Aviv
They refer to it as the "Tel Aviv Bubble
but earlier last week that bubble burst, and
in the worst way. Tel Aviv is supposed to
be a safe place, far enough away from the
Gaza Strip to avoid any true contact with
the animosity occurring. As we all know,
multiple rockets have hit Tel Aviv, where
I am currently living. I chose to live in Tel
Aviv, and I am choosing to stay in Tel Aviv
during this dramatic time.
I am fortunate enough to have been in
contact with my parents and friends, who
are supporting me through the experience,
and although it is nerve-wracking, I am
not living in fear. As an American, I am
used to reading about these happenings on
the news and through social media outlets.
Being here in the midst of the madness is
an experience I will truly never forget.
I have been woken up to rocket sirens,

8 July 17 • 2014

so. I could easily book a flight back to
Michigan and pretend it all never hap-
pened. Israelis do not have that option.
This is their home, and this is their real-
ity. This experience has taught me many
things — to appreciate where I come from,
to live life to its absolute fullest as you
never know what tomorrow will bring,
but most importantly, a sense of pride and
community.
The way Israel bands together, support-
ing each other through the worst of times
is what makes this country so strong. I am
proud to be here, and I am proud to stay
here through the best and worst of times.
No matter what, I will always stand with
Israel.

Writing From A Shelter

c-, A

giving me seconds to find shelter. I have
had to sprint to bomb shelters, praying
that the Iron Dome intercepts these rock-
ets and that no one is hurt. The hardest
part for me during this time is not hearing
the sirens or seeing the explosions, but

knowing that this is "life" here in Israel. I
don't mean that everyone is running for
shelter on a daily basis, but in the sense
that at any time in this country it is a real-
istic possibility to be attacked.
I have a place to flee if I chose to do

Anna Rubin, 20, Farmington
Hills, MSU, intern at Lone Star
Communications, Jerusalem
I am writing this from the bomb shel-
ter of my apartment here in Jerusalem.
This is my second time trying to write
this piece as I have so many thoughts