No one plans to be in Israel as a visitor during a military escalation. If it happens, however, a quick decision is necessary. CSI staffer Raquel Schwaerzler experienced the beginning of the Twelve Days of War last summer with a CSI tour group in Israel, followed by the adventurous evacuation via Egypt. When the Iran-Iraq War, "Roarong Lion," began, she was back in the country. This time, she decided to stay.
By Raquel Schwaerzler
"You've certainly picked a lovely time to visit Israel! I'm so sorry for you!" Nava greeted me in front of her apartment. Nava is a good friend of my colleague Delly. She and her family have lived in Tel Aviv for a long time and offered me a place to stay with them for a few days.
Despite the war, we celebrate Gidon's, Nava's husband's, 65th birthday the next day in a small gathering. His youngest daughter has baked a special "Peace Cake": everyone gets a "piece"—a play on words. Although the situation is very difficult for everyone, they haven't lost their sense of humor. It's Purim, so along with the birthday cake, there are also Haman bags, the traditional filled Purim cookies that commemorate the end of the Jews' adversary in the biblical story of Esther.
In case of alarm, everyone to the guest room
My guest room is the Mamad, or "bunker room" of the apartment. In newer buildings, such a shelter is built directly into the apartment. If there's an alarm, everyone comes to my room – including the cat. And there are alarms quite often.
While the sirens wail, we try to talk about things other than war. We discuss what to cook for dinner, laugh about cultural differences between Germans and Israelis, or my host family teaches me new Hebrew words.
Nava's daughter tells me how angry she was when the war began. Of course, my hosts also hope that the people of Iran will one day be freed from the mullahs' regime. And yet, I hear from many that they are tired of being caught in new war situations again and again for the past two and a half years. Fear has become a constant companion; life has lost its carefree spirit.
Exhausted, but not alone
I'm impressed by how Gidon and his daughter still manage to work full-time despite the circumstances and lack of sleep. But I can tell they're also very tired and exhausted. It's not just the lack of sleep, but also the constant tension in the air: When will the next air raid siren sound? Will the next missile be successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome? How long will this war last?
When the siren sounds again today, Nava says to me: “I can’t believe this is our normal. Other people live in safe countries, and for us, this is reality, day in, day out.” A sentence that I can’t get out of my head. And it reminds me how important it is to show our friends in Israel that they are not alone: be it through our prayers, through a message of solidarity – or by being there in person.
