Early in the morning on Saturday, the 7th of October 2023, the day after Sukkot, I heard a loud bang above my roof in Israel. It was 6:30 a.m., and I recognized this sound all too well. It was the sound of the Iron Dome’s rocket intercepting a rocket from Hamas. It was loud and woke me up, but I wasn’t too worried as I was accustomed to these rockets coming every few months or, at least, a barrage of them coming every 2 or 3 years.
Disturbing Images
I automatically started scrolling through Facebook and was puzzled by what I saw. There were images of Hamas breaking through fences, running out, and shouting their words in Arabic, “God is Great.” Then I saw images of them in Israeli, Jewish cities holding rifles at the base of apartments on the streets and on the road, shooting at cars and people. I had no idea what was happening. Then I saw many images of missing people. Many people posted about their friends who were missing, notably the victims of the Nova Peace Music Festival near Gaza that took place that day.
More images appeared, and I couldn’t look. I started to worry and messaged all of my friends to see if they were okay. I didn’t want to go outside, and tears started pouring down my cheeks; it was all too much to bear.
The Sirens Finally Came
As the days passed, I grew more anxious, and when the sirens finally came to my city, I fell to the floor in my kitchen, holding myself, shaking, waiting for the sounds of the explosions. “Boom,” “boom,” “boom,” and after each “boom,” the dogs in the neighborhood would start barking and go wild. I didn’t have a bomb shelter in my home (or a “Mamad”), so I was terrified that a rocket might hit me.
Fleeing Home
Eventually, after shedding many tears and pondering why anyone would harm so many children, torment so many families, or abduct so many people, I decided to leave Israel until the war subsided and stay with family overseas. Many Olim made the same decision, and we are safe away from the war at the moment, but our hearts remain deeply connected to Israel.
Staying Connected to Israel
I contribute financially wherever I can to support the children of victims and both female and male IDF soldiers. I keep my rocket alert apps, such as “Red Alert,” active so I can see how many rockets continue to target Israel daily. I often message my friends who were called to be reservists in the IDF army to ask if they are okay. Even though I am away from home, my Eretz Yisrael, I am with Israel. I watch i24NEWS, the only unbiased news channel for the Jewish people, and follow outstanding journalists like Benita Levin and Calev Ben-David.
Israel Will Be Victorious
I am confident that at the end of this war, the Jewish people will prevail. Deep in my heart, I believe that Israel will emerge victorious because, in the end, good intentions will always overcome evil intentions. As the late Prime Minister Golda Meir stated, “We have always said that in our war with the Arabs, we had a secret weapon – no alternative. The Egyptians could run to Egypt, and the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that, we might as well fight.” (As quoted in LIFE magazine, 3 October 1969). – Taken From Wikiquote – Golda Meir
Am Yisrael Chai!
Author - Leah Goldberg
Freelance Writer And Editor - View All Articles
Leah Goldberg made Aliyah to Israel from South Africa in 2014. She is a proud Zionist and Jew.
Leah has worked on publications such as Marie Claire Magazine and had a monthly column in Glamour Magazine
South Africa for almost 10 years. She loves both Ashkenazi and Sephardic culture and her favorite places in
Israel are Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberias, The Galilee, Akko, Caesaria, Rosh HaÁyin and the Golan Heights. She is very
passionate about the Jewish religion and culture and is a proud contributor to Daily Jewish.
