An uneasy calm...

"When I capture the image of a playground and a bomb shelter in the same photograph, I understand how what has become acceptable here is unique to the entire world" Noam Bedein

A little over a year ago Sderot was a differnt city. Rockets were falling regularly and the world noticed. Today it is mostly silent, and the world seems to have forgotten. If only the people of Sderot could forget and move on. Sadly the quiet is merely a moment in time, a lull between the last war and the next. A brief moment of respite and preparation while those that wish Israel harm rest and regroup.

The same kind of regrouping is going on in Sderot. I was amazed today at the amount of new construction happening in this quiet period. Sadly all the construction is in preparation for the next round of attacks. Homes are being retrofitted with bomb shelters and safe rooms, playgrounds are being built indoors, schools are being protected. Yet as always it is being done with beauty and grace.

One of our stops today was the Jewish National Fund (JNF) indoor playground. From the outside this building blends in with the industrial buildings around it, but once inside it is another story. What an amazing facility, they have thought of everything. We were given a tour by the manager and wow barely starts to explain the center. There is a climbing wall, rooms for birthday parties, a soccer field, video games, a computer room,a disco, a cafe, places for tea parties and playing house, exercise equipment and so much more. Beyond the fun there is also supportive services, a therapy area and tutoring services.

Placed in the most peaceful place this would be a wonderful center to hang out in and grow up in, but being it is in Sderot the thought that went into its design goes well beyond the interior. The whole building is designed with safety in mind. The roof is think and comprised of 360 tons of steel, every room is hardened and will stand up to the largest Grad rockets. Rooms have multiple enterances and exits to quickly move the over 400 children often there to safe rooms. Not one possible protection has been missed. It as awe enspriing from the architectural and engineering perspective as it is the educational and entertainment view.

After our visit to the playground we went to the Sderot Media Center, where Noam and his staff fight a different battle every day, that of knowledge. This small, 3 year old non profit organization is on the fore front of educating the world on the realities of living 1 mile from Gaza and how the terrorist activity within Gaza impacts the world as a whole.

I knew of Noam's work through Laura and we had spoken on FB, but was glad to finally meet this passionate man, so dedicated to his town and this cause.

For those that have been reading this blog since my last trip, Sderot is not a new topic, it is one dear to my heart and I was so grateful to Laura for helping me go back there today. If you have never heard of Sderot, please read back. If you haven't seen the movie Laura is working on about this amazing city please view her website  www.sderotmovie.com  and watch the trailer. This is an important piece of cinema and I can't wait for its release. If you are looking for a project to donate to, please consider this non-profit movie!!!!!

It is near and dear to my heart, and I am completely committed to doing all I can to see it gets the funding needed to come to life and help educate the world on the story of Sderot!

Entering Israeli air space

Flying to Israel is different than going anywhere else in the world. There are extra screenings, there are extra restrictions on what can be brought on board and the security is like no other. One of the most unique features is that within Israeli air space you are required to stay in your seat. You can not move around the plane and can not use the restroom. The plane can not land if that security has been broken in the 30 minutes before landing. The crews take this very seriously and enforce it 100%.

For some passengers this is an annoyance, for me it is a moment I look forward to. It means we are close and soon Tel Aviv will come into view. I know my routine, when they give the warning that we are 30 minutes from Israel it is time to change back to street clothes, brush my hair and teeth and pack up all my sleep stuff. It is the sign that I am home!!!!

The pilot just made that precious announcement. I feel that rush of adrenaline I always do. I love that for as often I get to visit lately, it never feels routine or boring. Coming back here still holds the magic and charm and excitement it did on my first trip years ago.

Every time I make this approach it reminds me how grateful I am to those who live in Israel, who defend Israel and who make sure that those of us in the diaspora have this home to come back to!

Am Yisrael Chai!!!!

Heading home again......

Greetings from somewhere over the Atlantic. I can’t believe I am able to head back to Israel so soon after my last trip, it has been barely six months since my last visit. I consider this trip a true blessing and is one I am extremely excited about.

This trip is the first time I have gone to Israel without a formal reason. In the past I either went for a group mission or for a meeting. But this trip is truly pleasure and just about me. I am going to celebrate plums, turning 40 and my new lease on life. And I can’t think of anywhere I would rather have that celebration.

I am also going to visit two very special people in my life, Laura and Irwin. Both of whom were “happy accidents” that have turned into treasured friendships. And it is rather ironic to be visiting them both in Israel of all places.

Laura I met for the first time on my trip to Sderot in February 2009. She is a documentary film maker (if you haven’t seen Refusenik you should btw) who left California to come to Israel to make a film about the lives of the people of Sderot and how living within target range of Gaza has impacted them. In making the film her life took some great twists and she has now married to one of her characters, become an Israeli citizen and is expecting her first child soon. I met her at her home where she was sharing the trailer to the movie.

There was no real reason, other than fate, why we should have ever spoken again after that short visit. But her movie, Sderot: Rock in the Red Zone, so moved me that I maintained contact with her after I returned home. And since then she has visited Minneapolis and we have become friends and she will be the smiling face waiting for me at the airport in Tel Aviv. Isn’t fate wonderful.

Irwin (and his wife Iris) are an even more interesting story for me. Irwin came into my life on probably the worst day of my life. The day I woke up paralyzed on my right side after the botched surgery. He was the nurse assigned to help care for me. Again, that should have been the end of it once I was discharged, but we were brought back together again when I ran into him at the Synagogue I became part of during my conversion. He was a teacher and a member there. Irwin and Iris were there the day I completed my conversion and as I grew in my faith, I spent my first Passover in their home and Irwin taught me much about Israeli history. After I moved from Syracuse I kind of lost touch with them, but through the miracle of Facebook we were able to reconnect last year. When I found them again they had just made Aliyah to Israel and were living outside of Jerusalem. I was able to visit with them on my last visit and they will be there to celebrate my birthday with me this year.

Having these amazing people waiting for me in Israel makes it feel even more like a trip home. This is the first time I don’t feel like I am heading there as a tourist and really am going to where I belong!!!!!