Once again, we feel that the best way for you to understand what is happening in Israel is to hear from people who are there. The comments below are from Shinshinim alumni who have spent a year working in some Canadian Reform congregations over the past few years after completing high school before their army service.
The Shinshinim program started in Reform congregations and has blossomed to all streams and many cities in North America. Our youth in Leo Baeck Day School and many Canadian Reform communities have learned about Israel from these bright and dedicated young Israelis.
The comments below are from "Shinshinim", young adults who worked a year in Canadian Reform congregations after high school and before their army service.
From Netta:
I'm not afraid of the rockets. It's not fun. But it's ok. What worries me about it is when I think about my little brothers who are four, seven and nine years old. I wonder why they have to hear alarms, go to a bomb shelter or crouch in the ditch on the side of the highway.
I'm afraid of the hatred, between Jews and Arabs, and within Israeli society. In the last few weeks there were demonstrations of right wing groups against left wing groups, and people are posting or saying things that shouldn't be said. In times like these, we must be strong and united, not judge people for their opinions, and not act violently towards anyone, no matter who he is or what his the believes are.
I'm also optimistic and proud. I'm proud to see so many people I know working days and nights to keep us safe. I'm extremely proud to see so many civilians across the country doing everything they can to show that Am Israel Chai.
And there is one more thing that makes me proud and optimistic. Seeing all the support and concern of so many people around the world and especially the Jewish community in Toronto makes me feel that we're not alone, and that there is hope that maybe one day my little brothers will not hear alarms, my friends won't be in the battlefront, and I'll have to write about my boring peaceful life in Israel.
From Amarel:
The situation here is crazy. I haven't been home for almost 28 days. Ttzuk Eeitan started and as a mortar instructor I have to go and train all my combat soldiers.
I was so proud to see so many soldiers, getting ready to fight in a real war, putting on a helmet, an m16 gun, checking they have all what they need, for the Uncertain situation they are getting in to ... and they have all the motivation to give everything, also their life to protect the country.
To tell you the truth, I start my day at 7am, and finish it at 2am, and I can't fall asleep. If you ask why? Because all my friends are in Gaza fighting a terror organization. I am scared to open the news and realize that one of them will never come back home.
Pray that this war will end, and that all the soldiers will be soon back home safe , that the civilians of the south will be able to live without alarms and stress all life,
Pray for a better future
כי אין לנו ארץ אחרת(Because we have no other land)
I send my love to all of you. Thank you for sending emails and staying in touch.
From Mai:
As you know, these days are not so easy for us. Our friends and family members taking part in the operation, fighting, get hurt and unfortunately even die in the battle against Hamas. Most of the country is under rocket attacks. The IDF does the best that it can to take Hamas apart, trying not to hurt innocent people... we do the best that we can to bring peace in a peaceful way, but it can never be nice when you are in a war.
I got a group of friend from my base to pray with me almost every night. In the last month my thoughts and my prayers are for peace, that my loved ones will get back safe from the battle, that our days will be full of joy and our nights will be peaceful and quiet as they should be, that no mother will cry, that no father will need to be worried.
I am proud to be Israeli, proud to be Jewish, proud of our Army and proud of this country. I couldn't ask for a better place to grow up or be right now. Israel is my country, is your country, it belongs to all of us, to the whole Jewish nation and we should support it. Please join my prayers for peace and may all the soldiers will come back safe from this operation.
From Yaniv:
I have been here for two weeks now - on the border. I have been drafted for the reserve forces... I am a combat medic working with a doctor, since Saturday night we treated over 50 injures and 15 bodies, it was so hard you can't believe it.
From Or:
I appreciate all the love we are getting from mail that our friends send us. Send everyone our love, and we are also thinking about you - you remind us that as soldiers in the IDF, we are not fighting just for the state of Israel, we are fighting for the Jewish nation. and we are telling it to our friends too.
You are reminding us the meaningful year we had with you, "young adults" who came to have a year over the ocean, and then went back home prouder than when we arrived to you- as Jews and as Zionists, and it means more than any time in these days.
From Gefen:
We are all doing ok but it is a very sad time with all the young soldiers that were killed. It is also very hard for me to hear what the world think about us.
And our peers have been through wars before but now it's our war, our friends that are killed or injured, and our turn to keep Israel safe and to let our families sleep at nights.
We get a lot of mail from Toronto and it's been helping me to feel your support .
L'Shalom
Les
Les Rothschild
President
ARZA Canada
