Terror
There was another bulldozer attack in Jerusalem today. It happened less than an hour ago less than a mile from my apartment. I was in class when we got a text message from the head of student life letting us know something had happened. Then I heard the sirens. Helicoptors are still flying over frequently. The main street I cross to get to school, David Melech (King David), is blocked off. Three of my good friends live on the street that is now blocked off by the bus that fell. Everyone in my program is alright. A few of us are freaking out. The Israeli newspaper I read online (http://www.haaretz.com) says no one was killed except the driver. I called my parents in Chicago, where it was just after 6AM, to let them know that I'm alright before they hear about it on CNN. I figured no one else is awake yet.
It's so surreal to know that an act of terror, albeit a copycat, happened so close to me. My room mate actually walked back to HUC just to walk me home after he called to make sure I was alright. I'm lucky to live with someone like Gavin, and to have friends who will hug me and let me cry and be afraid with them.
The scariest thing is not knowing when and where these occurrances may come. When I came here, I figured as long as I steered clear of the West Bank, I'd be fairly safe. We had our security meeting in orientation, we all know where the bomb shelter is at school (yes, my school has a bomb shelter), but it still didn't really sink in that I'm living in a country where constant terror is prevalent. It's such a strange concept that we all just need to go on with our lives every day, even after the return of the two dead Israeli soldiers last week (which I found about about in our morning T'filah - aka prayer), and after something as close to home as this. The people in my program who've lived in Israel just tell us that if we crawl away and let it get to us, then the terrorists have won. I'm trying to take deep breaths and not be worried all the time, but it's difficult when every time I get comfortable with living in Jerusalem, something happens to remind me of what's constantly happening around me. I grew up in such a sheltered world that being here now really is unreal to me.
So far in my life, my family, friends, and faith have given me the strength to get through challenges. Now, my family is halfway around the world along with all of the friends I have outside of HUC. Every person here is dealing with this the best way they know how. I knew this would be a year that would stretch and test my faith, but I didn't expect it to be like this.
It's so surreal to know that an act of terror, albeit a copycat, happened so close to me. My room mate actually walked back to HUC just to walk me home after he called to make sure I was alright. I'm lucky to live with someone like Gavin, and to have friends who will hug me and let me cry and be afraid with them.
The scariest thing is not knowing when and where these occurrances may come. When I came here, I figured as long as I steered clear of the West Bank, I'd be fairly safe. We had our security meeting in orientation, we all know where the bomb shelter is at school (yes, my school has a bomb shelter), but it still didn't really sink in that I'm living in a country where constant terror is prevalent. It's such a strange concept that we all just need to go on with our lives every day, even after the return of the two dead Israeli soldiers last week (which I found about about in our morning T'filah - aka prayer), and after something as close to home as this. The people in my program who've lived in Israel just tell us that if we crawl away and let it get to us, then the terrorists have won. I'm trying to take deep breaths and not be worried all the time, but it's difficult when every time I get comfortable with living in Jerusalem, something happens to remind me of what's constantly happening around me. I grew up in such a sheltered world that being here now really is unreal to me.
So far in my life, my family, friends, and faith have given me the strength to get through challenges. Now, my family is halfway around the world along with all of the friends I have outside of HUC. Every person here is dealing with this the best way they know how. I knew this would be a year that would stretch and test my faith, but I didn't expect it to be like this.