Orthodox Union

Thursday July 27, 2006 - 40 Falafels

July 27, 2006

Thursday morning Itamar and I leave my home in Timrat and head north. Itamar is my brother in law, a moshavnik from Kfar Vitkin. His pickup truck is absolutley overflowing with about $2,000 worth of toys that he is to donate to the kids in Kiryat Shemona. We also have 30 cakes Itamar convinced a bakery to donate as well as baby food and emergency lights donated by Itamar's moshav.

Most importantly we are also going to try and visit Gilad, one of Itamar's 2 sons serving in "active duty" reserves. We don't know exactly where Gilad is stationed, but we have an idea it is near Kiryat Shemona.

Gilad has one request...bring 40 falafels. The guys are tired and miss their "falafel" fix. This will prove to be one of the more meaningful experiences of the day.

We set out. The farther we go north the lighter the traffic gets. At some point the foreign TV crews and we are the only vehicles on the road.

I call my wife Beni at home to go online and find us a falafel stand up north that is open. Don't smile! This is truely a "mission impossible", as everything....everything is closed up here. She finds one place, Sabra's, just south of Kiryat Shemona and we order the falafels by phone, our first contact with some of the amazing people we are to meet today.

We get closer to Kiryat Shemona and Itamar and I have a serious argument. He wants to drive slowly so if a katusha falls, he can stop quickly and find shelter. I want him to speed up and spend as little time as possible on the roads. He wants the windows down so we can her the thud of an incoming katusha. I want them up so the glass will slow down the ball bearings that the katusha spews when it explodes.

The city of Kiryat Shemona is deserted. There is not a single person on the streets. Not a soul. Half the poulation has been relocated. The other half is sitting in the shelters. Not a soul. We are the only vehicle moving in the town. The traffic lights flash orange. We find the command center for the town inside a large bomb shelter. You would think you have entered a war room...which you have. These guys coordinate the fire brigade, ambulance and other services a municipality provides. They also help relocate the people who want to leave, as well as provide for those who have decided to stay. We talk to Yariv and Yehuda who cannot stop thanking Itamar for the huge donation of toys.

We unload and drive off to Kibbutz Neot Mordechai. My brother, Israel, has arranged for a fruit packing house to donate some plums for Kiryat Shmona. As we start packing the truck with 20 boxes of fruit, we hear the thuds of katyushas falling on Kiryat Shemona.

We drive to the Sabra restaurant to get the falafels. It is 2:00 PM and there is only one customer in the restaraunt. Arik, the owner, tells us that he is the only place open in the area and intentionally stays open 24 hours a day so that the soldiers in the area, who have some free time, can come in and relax. He tells us that he usually has 25 staff per shift. Today, as has been the case for the last 2 weeks, only the cook and Arik are at work. Our 40 falafels are his largest order in 15 days. He knows we are going to give the falafel to an army unit and so he decides to gives us some salads and pitas for free. From his restaurant window I take some photos of katyuhas hitting Kiryat Shemona.

It's time to go looking for Gilad, Itamar's son. Gilad knows we're coming. He gives us hints on his mobile phone as to his unit's position. The enemy is listening and he is careful not to describe his exact position. We drive up the mountain and into the fields and follow the dust and army trucks to his unit. Itamar is so glad to find his "little" 27 year old son. We give the guys the falafel and cakes and well wishes. One of the reserve soldiers has 48 hours off. He lives in Ramla and wants to see his little daughter. We offer him a lift. He hops into the truck and we pull out.

We hit the main road and head for home. There are artillery batteries on both sides of the road. You can see them all so close. They open fire on Hizbollah as we drive by. (Listen to artillery fire recorded from the road)



Benay Katz is an Israeli who made aliyah from Milwaukee, Wisconsin 31 years ago, and co-authored the book, Waiting for Peace - How Israelis Live with Terrorism with Liza Wiemer. Jeff Katz is an Israeli who made aliyah from Toronto, Canada 34 years ago. He is a licensed tour guide and a civil engineer. Jeff and Benay lives in the hilltop community of Timrat overlooking the Jezreel Valley. They have five children.

Benay and Jeff have agreed to write of their experiences during these trying times, as Benay says, "I know it's important for your constituents to know what is happening and I know your constituents support and love Israel. I'm sure many of them have family and friends here too."

Permanent Link