40 | NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 

went to shul. There, she saw 
rockets flying overhead, and 
her thoughts turned to her 
21-year-old brother, serving 
in the IDF. 
“It was the only time in 
my life when I had trouble 
not being on my phone 
during a yontif or Shabbos,” 
she says. 
When the holiday ended 
and she was able to con-
nect with her parents, they 
told her they had booked 
her on two different flights 
home in case the first one 
was canceled. But her par-
ents ultimately gave her the 
choice, and she decided to 
stay. 
Weissman, Rapoport and 
Smith are all back to learn-
ing but also more involved 
in volunteering. They’ve 
been busy preparing food 
for the soldiers, farming, 
donating blood, working 
with displaced children, 
tying tzitzit for soldiers and 
offering words of inspira-
tion to members of the IDF.
The girls said their semi-
nary changed campuses for 
safety reasons and access 
to more volunteer oppor-
tunities. They praised the 
school’s leadership for the 

extensive security measures, 
checking in with the girls’ 
mental health and finding 
them volunteering opportu-
nities. 
Tracht and Aisner are 
adjusting to being home 
early. Tracht rejoined a 
hockey team. He’s spend-
ing time with family and 
friends, planning on getting 
a job and looking into a 
semester abroad somewhere 
starting in January. 
Aisner is contemplating 
working or volunteering, 
possibly helping local Israeli 
moms whose spouses are 
serving in the IDF. She 
hopes to return to Israel 
as soon as she can. And, 
although she’s home, she 
still receives text alerts for 
bomb activity. 

“I’ve been trying to stay 
away from it, but it’s hard 
when you have people there 
you’re worried about. Most 
of my stuff is still there, 
which I can replace. I’m not 
worried about that. But I 
lived there. I have people I 
care about who are there. 
It’s hard. I’m 18; all my 
Israeli friends are serving 
right now. It’s hard to think 
about.” 

continued from page 39

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