This article was written by Rabbi Alan Bell on June 18 from Israel.
My wife, Susan, and I traveled to Israel on June 8 to attend the wedding of an Israel Defense Forces soldier whom we befriended and to show our support for our relatives in the States and in our homeland. During our stay, Israel and the Jewish people made history. The Jewish nation was founded on the promise of “never again.” This phrase may be cliché to some, but faced with the threats emanating from the nation of Iran the words of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Nobel Laureate Eli Wiesel, “When someone says they want to kill you, believe them.”
On June 13, the Jewish nation, on behalf of the world, set out to destroy the threat of a nuclear Iran. This is a task not only for today, but a multi-generational undertaking on behalf of the children and grandchildren of the people of the region and the world.
What is it like here in Israel since the war started? Israelis are proud of the work of the IDF. The thousands of tourists, mostly Jews, currently in Israel are proud of their Jewish heritage and the nation that understands that “never again” means NOW. Everyone here will tell you they are tired. Iran is playing a psychological game by bombing us at night. On average, we are awakened twice a night to alarms on our phones and then begin to make our way down to safety shelters, underground subway stations, or safe rooms. The resilience of the people is unwavering and witnessing Israeli fortitude and determination is inspiring. Each day the streets are getting busier as more stores begin to open up. We will continue to move forward until we can live in peace in our homeland.
Rabbi Alan Bell is the spiritual leader at Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach.
