Dialogue of Hope
While many refer to life during the "stabbing Intifada", unfortunately attacks against our homeland and people have not stopped, and their words remain valid.
This morning, I realized the absolute worst part of going about life on days like these...Questioning whether or not to go to the market or to spend time at the mall, those are the simple dilemmas, believe it or not.
The most tragic element during such a difficult period are the looks. The way you look at people. They way they look at you. Wanting to say out loud to your child's caretaker, I trust you. The extra smile you give to the grocery man to let them know, it's not them you blame. It's the extra look you give over your shoulder, checking who is walking behind you. I tried my best this morning to go about life. And to say good morning, with just a bit if extra effort. But the looks were there. On all ends. And that makes the wound that has fallen upon us, sting even more...
- Michelle Rojas-Tal
Thank you to all those who are sending messages of concern for us here in Israel. It is so greatly, greatly appreciated. Your support and solidarity gives us strength. We are undergoing a wave of terror but make no mistake, we will not be chased, bowed or broken! We will continue to pray at the Kotel, go to Jerusalem, live our lives as normal. Am Yisrael Chai!!!
- Rolene Marks
They sent waves of terrorists to attack us, we built a defensive wall (equipped with gadgets) to stop them.
We built a wall with fancy gadgets, they started firing rockets above it.
They fired rockets, we built the Iron Dome missile defense system to intercept them.
We intercepted their rockets, they went underground with tunnels. We are building a technology to detect their tunnels, and they are inspiring individuals, who use knifes and screwdrivers, to kill.
I honestly don’t know what the solution is. I do however know that there isn’t – and there won’t be – a piece of technology or 8200 geek that can stop a Palestinian who decides, after having his morning coffee, to, just like that, grab a kitchen knife and kill Israeli Jews.
- S. Daniel Leon
What's happening here in Israel can only be described as a war. Not a conventional war of planes and tanks, but a war of Jihad against the Jewish people.
- Uri Silberman
I'm not really commenting on the wave of terror. I've already said what I needed to say last year, and a few years back, and I feel helpless because did anything help back then? I feel like all I could do is just continue to live my life, because nothing would really help except brute force against our would-be murderers, but I can't control that.
The only thing I could really control is trying to change the philosophical culture that leads to moral confusion and our fear of up for our lives. I spent ten years writing a novel trying to change the world. Can't say even that has made a difference. I'm spent. You could fire me. Or maybe, I resign from trying to change the world.
But just know: Pay attention to what's happening on the streets of Israel. We're a test case. The new and old jihadists in your midsts will repeat this on your streets. Our safety is yours.
- Orit Arfa, Author of "The Settler"
The violence continues but the world's media will only share Israel's retaliation. Stabbings, Molotov cocktails, glass & rock throwing, and more have happened here. Yes, knives and rocks do and have killed. And that means they are killers.
- Joshua Mandlebaum
To friends and family abroad seeing the news and wondering about my safety (& you know who you are):
I was here in the late 80s when there was a rash of stabbings in the streets...and I continued to walk the streets.
I was here in 1996 when buses were blowing up "right & left" (friend was killed in one such attack)... and I continued traveling on buses. I was here in the early 2000's when restaurants and buses and hotels and more were being blown up... and I continued to visit restaurants and hotels and take buses.
I was here as a rash of stabbings took place...and I will continue to walk the streets.
Calm down. We're fine here. Everyone's a little more on edge than usual. But we're ok. Now can we please get back to memes, cartoons and Buzzfeed videos?
- Ephraim Gopin
In the words of Mark Twain:
“Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of…He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greeks and Romans followed and made a vast noise, and they were gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, and have vanished….All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"
Thinking of all our friends and family in Israel!
- Shirley Roth
So in the middle of all the stabbing and attack incidents, I was standing online at our local Bituach Leumi (National Insurance) amid Jews and Muslim Arabs, crowded as you can imagine most places in the world like this would be.
In comes a very old and heavy-set Arab Muslim woman, passes security with minimum check and leaning on her walking stick complains that the line before her is too long for her to stand.
Without so much as one word of opposition, the security direct her to the next available representative and in this crowded room, not one Jew made any sound or gesture of objection. Grey hair is grey hair no matter whose head it grows on.
To know national character you don't need to know individuals. Just match this example to the Arabs kicking Jewish woman in Jerusalem while she bled with knife in her shoulder.
- Emet Shine
When #Israel is under attack, it's not the expected cruelty of my enemies that stings, but the silence of my friends.
- Afshine Emrani
I am so dizzy. Stabbings, rocks, molatov cocktails amd ,pre directed by Muslim Arabs at Jews all over the country. Ummmm...I don't even know what to say. Will we ever be able to just live quietly? Will the Jewish people ever be out of lethal danger on this planet? We have no other land...and the most amazing part of that is that we love our land. We love our country. Anyway, good night my Israeli brothers and sisters. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a quiet day.
- Dina Saadon
WE LIVE LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE ARE HOME.
MESSAGE TO ISRAEL RESIDENTS & TOURISTS:
Right now we are on high alert and everybody must do his/her best to at least protect him/herself as best as one can. Here are some practical advice:
- Keep your eyes always open. Avoid headphones and talking on a cell phone when you're walking down the street. Better not to be distracted. BE VIGILANT!
- When you get on a bus, take a moment to decide if it feels safe or not (especially if you saw a face you didn't trust).
- When riding a bus, always try to sit or stand near the exit doors.
- Instead of taking a bag/purse, use a backpack, it will protect you from a back stabbing.
- Watch your back every once in a while and try always remember the faces of who is walking near you, you could be a witness!
- Utilize the shop windows and the car and bus windows to peek at who's behind near you
- Be suspicious and careful of someone who stops you for indications, the time, information, etc. If you don't trust that face say "I don't know" (or just shrug as though you don't understand) and walk out right away.
- Try to walk with a long umbrella (when seasonally appropriate), you could use it to defend yourself, but it could also be the deterrent of a terrorist from choosing you as his victim
- Buy a pepper spray and leave it in a pocket or side of your purse that is easily accessible
- Try to always wear comfortable shoes while travelling around in case you may need to run
- If you need to search your bag for candies, glasses, keys, etc. better to stop and do it in a safe place than doing this while walking and not paying attention to your surroundings
- In case of a physical attack it's very important to remember TO BREATHE!! then SCREAM!!!! (In case of an incoming rocket attack siren, breathe and find your nearest shelter - chances are a lot of people will be heading that direction already.)
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