Sat, Oct 7, 2023
I actually wrote this early Sunday morning, but forgot that when I named the post and put it up on the newsletter days later.
A quick note: We are safe, so far. Everything has happened to the south of us, though one of the first rockets hit a building in the next city over.
I haven't been outside since it started, though I'm going to work in about an hour, so I don't know the mood on the literal street. I know where bomb shelters are on the way to my office. I ducked into mine twice yesterday. It's right next to my kitchen.
From what I see online, the fissures that looked like they were about to tear society apart a couple of days ago have disappeared for the moment. A unity government is forming, and the people who threatened to stay away from reserve duty are showing up.
The protests that usually happen on Saturday nights were canceled yesterday. (To a degree that might amaze those of us who were in Occupy, the protest movement is really well organized, though no one is quite sure who is organizing it.) There were supposed to be Simchat Torah celebrations everywhere last night, but I understand that they didn't happen. And the huge outdoor Bruno Mars concert in Tel Aviv was canceled.
People are saying that this is a 9-11 level event, not only in terms of the casualties but in the element of surprise. Hamas attacked us in several different ways (including, from what I understand, some that they had never used before) all at once. And the biggest new thing was the taking of hostages.
I suspect that this will end relatively quickly, and result in significant changes for the people of Israel and Palestine. It's too early to tell what the changes will be, but I have to hope that they will be for the better.
As is my nature, I'm feeling a bit numb and detached as I sit here typing alone. This may change when I get outside. I can hear my landlord up in the backyard caring for the trees and doing his mysterious woodworking. I can never quite tell what he is building from junk wood until a piece is done. There's some confusion as to what is or isn't closed. It's a bit like COVID lockdown. But my boss has said to come in, and I would be as or more safe there than at home.
Thanks, everyone, so much for the messages and prayers. They mean a lot.