Wednesday July 26, 2006
July 26, 2006
About one hundred rockets have fallen in the north so far today and it is only 4PM.
My brother in law and I were to go to Kiryat Shemona today to give out toys to kids in shelters and fruit and "picnic" gas burners for coffee to his son's artillery unit.
But there is too much shelling up north, so we will try and go tomorrow. We are lucky. We can decide not to go. The people up there, the police, firemen, search and rescue units, Magen David Adom...they have no choice.
The TV has shows for parents showing them how to deal with their children's fears and stress.
The radio has a radio announcer and a phychiatrist talking to people who are calling in to the program.
The last woman on the radio had this to say:
"My brother was a parachutist and was killed in Lebanon in 1982. Now my youngest son is also a parachutist and he is fighting in Lebanon. I am so worried...."
She started crying, the radio announcer started crying and I am writing these words 10 minutes after recomposing myself.
Now the radio is playing old, sad Israeli tunes, something they do when times are very bad. The news will not be good.
Jeff
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."
