An update from Israel: Let my people sleep

Many good friends check every day to ask how we are doing here in Israel with the war. Here is an unfinished report. Let’s start with the food.

The first day of the war, when Israel attacked the nuclear facilities in Iran, many people went to the supermarkets and any grocery store. Suddenly, I discovered that we all have very large families. 

I saw some people taking 10 bottles of milk. “It’s for my 15 kids,” they said. I decided to do the same. “It’s for my jacuzzi, my doctor recommended it,” I answered. 

Now, six days later, everyone is more relaxed. Even a few coffee places and restaurants are open. We try to live normally, knowing it’s not a normal situation. Before sitting down, the first question we all ask is, “Where is the shelter?” 

Shelter

We have a different shelter system in Israel. After the first Gulf War, it was very important to build a shelter room in every apartment or house. That means that if your apartment is from 1997 or later, it should have a shelter. 

Older buildings either have a public shelter or share one with the buildings around them. Unfortunately, only 40 percent of Israelis have a shelter in their house, and around two million don’t have a good solution. 

The distance between life and death can be one decision, one second. I have a family member, for example, who chose to sleep in their shelter rather than in their bedroom. They were saved when their shelter room stayed intact despite the building around them being destroyed. 

How do we feel?

Well, in one word, tired. In two words very tired. 

Between the tension and lack of sleep, it’s easy to get confused. 

My routine when we go to the shelter is to call my kids, then check to make sure that my mom has entered her shelter as well. It’s my job to let her know when she can go outside. 

Last night, the last round of missiles came at 2:30 in the morning. A few minutes later, we went back to bed. At 4:30 in the morning, the phone rang. “Ruby, it’s me, your Mama. Can I go out of the shelter?”

I had to explain to her it was a very, very long attack. I told you we are very tired. 

It’s hard to sleep so little, remain in such high tension, and still find the energy to get through the rest of your day. 

Are we winning?

Israel is doing the job for the whole world. Maybe by the time you read this article, the USA will have entered the war as well. In order to completely end the nuclear program in Iran, we need our best friends.

As far as Israel is concerned, there are three goals in the war. Two are declared, and one is wishful thinking. 

After Hizballah was defeated 8 months ago, Iran decided to move forward with the nuclear program. The debate today is how close they are to their goal. Israel is working to make sure it never achieves it. 

The second reason is the Iranian decision to dramatically increase the number of missiles they can launch and how effective those missiles would be. Thousands of missiles can easily destroy all of Israel. At this point, it looks as if we took out 40 percent of their launching ability. 

Iran is 70 times bigger than Israel. 10 times more in population. Here we come to the third and most problematic goal. 

We don’t have a great track record with trying to change regimes. Israel should not speak loudly about it, and it shouldn’t be a goal. We would love to see it happen, and maybe it will, but it should come from the Iranian people. 

Most of the people in Iran hate the regime, but they are afraid to speak out against it. The Iranian government has a big, cruel force called the Basij that exists to put a stop to any protest. I hope some of our attacks also go against the Basij. 

Iran is falling apart, but let’s not forget that the person who started this chess game is very sophisticated and will not go quietly. It’s time to be humble and work hard. 

What about you?

From the beginning of the war, I became emotional and soft. I promise to get over it as fast as possible and return to my sarcastic ways. But, for now, every time we go to the shelter, my wife, Sandy, and I hug each other and pray. Then we give a big hug to our dog Queen Layla and sit down quietly. 

I text my beloved friends in the USA and write to them about how much I love them. It’s so important for us to know that you are with us and support us as people and as a nation. 

So here is my little request.

Please pray for us and with us in these difficult times. When the crisis is over, come to visit Israel. It is the best way to show your support. 

All my friends know about my amazing brothers and sisters in the U.S., and I just need to introduce you to them.

Lastly, we cannot allow the war to make us forget that we still have 53 Israelis kidnapped in Gaza. Please continue to pray that we will be able to bring them home now as well.