When the "Code Red" siren wails just before 3:30 am in the middle of a hot summer night, the first thing you do is grab your kids. The second thing you do is realize that you're in your underwear and the safest place in your building is the stairwell where all your neighbors will also be gathering. So you use the 60 seconds you know you have until the rocket is able to hit to throw on whatever clothes you can find, re-grab your kids and shuffle out, barefoot and half-dressed into the hallway.
For those of you closely following the escalating conflict here in Israel, you will know that Haifa (where we live) is quite far from Gaza. The one rocket warning we got last night is nothing compared to the barrage of rockets raining down on the south of the country. The experience we had last night only allowed us to scratch the surface of what daily life is like for so many people here.
As we head into Shabbat, we hope that this conflict reaches a quick and peaceful end, that no more lives are lost on either side and that we can find time to get to know our neighbors while fully dressed and not fearing for our safety.
Shabbat SHALOM and have a great weekend,
Stef, Matt, Lev and Hila
