Friday, August 3th,

What a Bummer: War Again

Dear Friends,

After 48 hours of temporary ceasefire and relative quiet, this annoying war returned yesterday. Reports state that over 220 katyushas landed in the north of Israel. The katyushas in Haifa landed in uninhabited areas, thank God, but still we went to the bomb shelter many times.

Three days ago we reopened our three Or Hadash preschools and the 2nd graders’ summer camp. About half of the children came in the first two days. But after the sirens yesterday, some of them did not stay until the end of the day (and a few of them left the city again to the Tel Aviv area).

Next Saturday 3 Bar Mitzvah ceremonies are scheduled to take place, but none of them will actually go as planned. One family canceled, because none of the relatives wanted to come. The father in the second family (a family of three generations of Reform Jews at Or Hadash! The father celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in the 70’s) has an important position in the IDF, and he has to be in Lebanon all of the time. He can make it to the ceremony but he has to leave as soon as it is over. The third family came from abroad and they decided to have the ceremony at a restaurant in Tel Aviv. I will drive there so Or Hadash does not loose income.

This morning we had a “Holy Ark dedication” in our bomb shelter. Today, our bomb shelter is also officially a kind of sanctuary, where life cycle ceremonies can be held: Sheecheyanu! You see, I didn’t loose my sense of humor. Rabbi Shaul Dr. Feinberg from the HUC with his son Uri came to the opening from Jerusalem to encourage and support us (especially the children of Or Hadash). The children were fascinated by Uri Feinberg who led the activities and entertained them for 4 hours!!

Afterwards we went for a few hours to the Rambam hospital in Haifa to visit the wounded soldiers and citizens. Thanks to Dr. Yishai Lachter and another member of our congregation, Sharon who is a dietitian (they both work at the Rambam hospital), we were allowed to visit the wounded soldiers.

First, we spoke with a 20 year old soldier, whose feet were both amputated, but he didn’t give up on his dream of becoming a rock and roll star. I gave him the Or Hadash CD and told him I also like to play the guitar and that he is invited to play the guitar with us whenever he wants (or can). It broke my heart to see only half a body. From the hips down, there was only a blanket.

Another soldier, Victor, has been sleeping for the past 4 days, because the doctors gave him a lot of medicine (he is not in a coma). He underwent many operations. I spoke with his mother and told her that as a father whose child underwent many operations, I can relate to what she is going through. Our Preschool Coordinator, Hila Hadasin speaks Russian, so she tried to comfort Victor’s mother, while her only child lay seriously wounded in the hospital. She said a few words in Russian to Victor, and he opened his eyes for a short while.

Then we met with a soldier who was wounded in his foot during a battle in the Lebanese city of Taibe. I told him that 17 years ago I fought in the same place. We spoke about our common experiences and I told him that I wish our children won’t have to fight at the same places. He answered “And that they don’t have to see what we saw” (not to mention the terrible smell I thought but I didn’t say).

We met with a civilian whose back was wounded during the attack on Tzur Shalom in the July 25th katyusha attack. He is not able to walk yet.

I can’t wait for this war to end. As strong as we may be, the sound of sirens and going to the shelter is wearing us out ( I can’t get out of my mind the sight of my son tripping on the stairs when going quickly to the shelter). There is an eerie and unnatural silence in the city, occasionally disrupted by the sound of planes and helicopters (which are supposed to make us feel safe).

I wanted to share with you some of the drawings that the Or Hadash children made. Of course almost all of them drew images of katyushas hitting houses and people and interpreted them in their own unique way.

As part of our Jewish tradition, today we conclude 3 weeks of mourning (from Tamuz 17 until Av 9), marking the Temple destruction. Tomorrow a period of consolation is supposed to start. This Saturday is Shabbat ‘Nachamu”. The prophet Isaiah’s message of comfort begins with the words: “Nachamu Nachamu Ami Yomar Eloheichem” =”Comfort, oh comfort my people says our God” (Isaiah 40:1). But unfortunately the situation in Haifa fits more the passages in the book of Lamentations that we read last night at our 9 Be’av service (at Or Hadash along with the conservative congregation of Haifa) “Ein Menachem Lah” =”Nobody comforts the city” (Lamentations 1:9).

We wish that the 7 Shabatot of consolation will also come upon the city of Haifa and the north of Israel.

The truth is that I wanted to write you more but lately every 10-15 minutes there is a siren and we have to go down to the shelter. The reports on TV say that there are several people were killed in the attacks today. There is a 4 year old boy whose father came to pick him up from preschool and they cannot leave the building because they had to go downstairs to the shelter three times already. The summer camp children made “aquariums” from coca cola bottles and the water was spilled all over the stairs when they were running to the shelter, but the little goldfish are safe. Not to worry!

B’Shalom,

Edgar