May 2021 – Sandra Chen

For the past 6 days, over 2000 rockets were fired to Israel from the Gaza Strip. As a soldier serving in the area, I can tell that I can understand the struggle of the citizens living close to the border. There is no time to relax from the “Red Alert” sirens and the time to get to the shelters is 10 seconds at best.

Southern Israel is on fire. The realization that so many people are in danger and it is my friends and I how are standing up front protecting the country. So many places in the country are on fire and the situation between the Jewish and the Arab citizens in the country is getting worse.

All I can hope for is that we will be able to live peacefully together, if not completely then at least the way we were before.

I got to be home for the weekend, take a little rest from the craziness of what is going on. There are sirens in Tel Aviv, and now I know that there is no a safe place. To be honest, I want to go back to base as soon as possible and help my friends fight for peace and the safety of our citizens.

There is one thing I want to make clear: Israel is not attacking Gaza! Israel is DEFENDING herself from Hamas’s rockets and its terrorists, trying to cross the borders to harm Israeli citizens and soldiers. Hamas uses its own citizen to protect its own political interests. Don’t let the media fool you! Don’t blindly follow your favourite celebrities! Read more about the situation. Educate yourself, your friends and communities.

There are so many people doing so much to ensure safety and peace. Don’t take it for granted!

Help Israel and share the truth about what is going on! We all deserve to live in peace with our neighbours. Protect our families and friends. Both Israel and Gaza need our global community to understand what Hamas does with its power.

As many populations around the world, Israelis too have the few things that stand out from the crowd. Loud, cut lines and rude and let me tell you- all of these might be true, yet there is one thing that represents all Israelis- in big celebrations or grief, we all become one- there are no religious or secular Jews, nor Jews and Arabs. We unite together, stand for each other and support one another. When an Israeli gets recognized globally, it is everybody’s success.

Lag Ba’Omer, a Holiday celebrated mostly celebrated by kids, having a bonfire with friends and classmates. One big tradition on this holiday is to gather on mount Meron where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and Rabbi Eleazar are buried. Just like every year, thousands of people gathered on mount Meron, to celebrate the holiday, yet this time there was no happy ending.

Thousands of people, had very little space to move. People suffocated and had no escape as there was only one enterence and one exist- that was blocked by the police. This tragic event ended with 45 people trampled to death and over 150 people injured.

This event shocked the entire country- it didn’t matter whether you were secular, Hassidic Christian or Muslim. We are one. Thousands of Israelis gathered together to donate blood for the injured in the hospitals and other donated food and other essentials for the families who lost their loved ones. Everyone has done the best the could to stand united, defend their brothers and sisters. There was no left wing or right wing- just a big family supporting its hurt brothers and sisters. This is what being an Israeli means to me.

My blessings are with the injured and their families. If anyone sees this and need/ know of anyone who needs assistance, please contact me via comments or social media!

Month: May 2021

Israel is Under Attack

The “Typical” Israeli