Rockets fired by Gazans can be seen in the night sky

over southern Israel on July 8.

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Proud To Be In Israel

and emotions regarding life here in Israel amidst current
hostilities. This is my third time having to run for shelter
in the last week. I embarked on this trip with the expec-
tation that my time here would be unforgettable. From
Taglit-Birthright, traveling for a month with my mother
and interning at Lone Star Communications, I have fallen
in love all over again with the place I call my second
home. However, this time my love for Israel has a differ-
ent foundation.
With only four weeks left of my journey, I am begin-
ning to really understand what made me want to come
back to Israel for an extended period of time. This expe-
rience has made me appreciate Israel for more than its
amazing sites and history. This time, I love Israel for its
people and their sense of devotion and resilience.
There is no way to explain what it is like to run down
six flights of stairs to reach a bomb shelter other than
absolutely terrifying. However, when I emerge from the
safe place and step out into the streets of Jerusalem, it
is like nothing ever happened. Israelis continue on with
their lives despite being constantly attacked and having to
run to safety. It is hard for me to continue with everyday
life knowing that at any moment a rocket could destroy
it. When I talk to the people around me, who have lived
with this reality for their entire lives, I feel comforted and
reminded of why I love Israel and am proud to be Jewish.

Waking To Sirens

Ben Krawitz, 21, West Bloomfield,
U-M senior, Tel Aviv
I'm in Tel Aviv for the Israel Tech Challenge. Sirens wake
me up most mornings. Yesterday, I was woken at 8:15 to a
siren, today at 7:50. I've seen a few rockets get shot down
by the Iron Dome, which has been pretty crazy. People
here have been going along with their typical day, but
some people are also scared and stressed.
When a siren sounds, sometimes when people are in
buses, they all get out and run to the nearest place. We
have two minutes until impact if a rocket were to drop.
Some places more south have like 15 seconds. My trip
leader was called into the IDF reserves, and most of

Israel Solidarity on page 10

Neil Michaels' two children. Neil [cantorial
soloist at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield
Rachel Gottlieb Kalmowitz
also is studying at Hebrew Union College]
Special to the Jewish News
and his wife, Stephanie, were going on a tour
with my husband and me. The tour was sup-
posed to be mainly the rooftops of Jerusalem,
but ending in a wine bar. At our first stop, the
am living here for seven weeks study-
ing at Hebrew Union College in
YMCA, we got stuck in the eleva-
Jerusalem. My husband, Carey,
tor to the roof, as there was a tzeva
our almost 3-year-old daughter,
adom. We ran to the basement when
Ilana, and I have an apartment that
they got us out to wait for the rockets
does not have a miklat (bomb shelter
— two were intercepted by the Iron
or safe room), so when there is a
Dome and two fell in unpopulated
areas — while frantically trying to
tzeva adorn (red alert), we cram into
our tiny bathroom (big enough only
reach our nanny to make sure the
for a toilet and a tiny sink) because
kids were OK. After that, we left the
Rache
it is the only room in the apartment
tour, passing a bride having her wed-
Kalmo witz
without a window. We are on the top
ding pictures taken, to head home to
floor, however, so in a direct hit, we
check the kids, who were fine.
would not be spared.
The four of us then headed out to an
incredibly beautiful dinner. A perfect night in
My daughter gets terrified when the siren
sounds and asks why we are all sitting in the
a garden, great friends, wonderful food, lots
bathroom together, and we say that we just
of laughter, trying to keep busy the part of my
want to be close. We are not comfortable hav- brain that immediately asked for the location
ing her in a different room at night, so she
of the miklat.
I am proud to be here, living in Israel, the
has been sleeping with us. Even so, whenever
she hears any loud sound she asks in a pan-
Jewish state, at this tumultuous time. We are
icked voice, "What's that?" And most heart-
being bombarded by rockets simply for being
breakingly, "I'm scared:' We tell her Mama
here and being Jewish. Hamas continues to
and Daddy are here and will keep her safe,
have total disregard for human life, trying to
and we pray that we are telling her the truth.
maximize civilian casualties on both sides for
I have never been more grateful for AIPAC, its own political gain, while the IDF is trying
knowing that they were instrumental in
to minimize civilian casualties on both sides,
dropping leaflets warning Gazans to leave
the U.S. Congress' decision to fund the Iron
Dome, which has saved countless lives in
their homes before a strike.
This is our homeland — the only country
Israel this week.
The Israelis seem quite nonchalant about
in the world that we can be sure will take us
in and protect us with all of its might. I am a
this way of life, ready to run into a safe room
or stairwell at any time, even into the build-
part of the Jewish people, the people of Israel.
ing of a stranger or, if there is no building
That has never felt more true. May God bless
nearby, to lie flat on the ground with their
us and protect us. May God's face shine on us
hands covering their heads. I was told by
and be gracious to us. May God's face be lift-
Yossi Klein HaLevi, a well-known Israeli
ed toward us and grant us peace. Amen.
writer, that it is not nonchalance as much as
it is compartmentalizing.
Rachel Gottlieb Kalmowitz is cantorial soloist at
I can see this even in myself. Last night, we Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township.
ad our nanny taking care of Ilana, as well as

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July 17 • 2014

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