Libi BaMizrach

War is a special time to be in Israel. It seems in so many ways like a different universe from the way things were just a little over a week ago.  I don’t need to inform my readers of the awful events that we have seen and the very real threats we still face.  I live less than five miles from the largest Air Force base in the North, and the incessant sound of planes coming and going is scary (but also music to my ears, as I appreciate how much the IDF is doing to protect us).  I also don’t need to make you aware of the incredible coming together that most (see below) of the country is experiencing, in contrast to the terrible hatred and arguments that were tearing us apart till so recently.  The outpouring of Chessed and helping and aid from all parts of the Jewish world, both within Israel and coming in from abroad, the great increase in Tefilla and Torah in solidarity with the soldiers makes one proud to be part of this timeless people. For all of us, life will n...

Preparing this morning to go to shul for Simchas Torah in Beitar Ilit, there were a few muffled explosions, but I didn't think much of it – one often hears such noises.  But then, the air raid siren went off, and I began to worry as I entered the Mamad (Secure room).   Eventually, I decided to venture out to shul.  The non-Jewish security guard said there had been a terror incident in Bet Shemesh, (information that turned out to be false).  But then, in the middle of Shacharis, the siren went off again – and we all crowded into the bomb shelter.  We ventured out, skipped Hakafos , said Yizkor, and then another siren before Geshem and Mussaf.  And another.  Eight sirens in all over the next few hours.  I never made it to  Hakafos , although things seemed to settle down towards the afternoon.  Waiting to hear the news at the end of Yom Tov, my mind wandered to another Simchas Torah, 21 years ago. It was 2002, during the terrible secon...