Slice of Life

There’s nothing like old friends. For this reason, I look forward to the summer get-together of a group of friends of mine from seminary/college days. The core group lives here in Israel, but friends from abroad will join if they happen to be visiting at the time of the event.

October 7 was a turning point. The world changed dramatically. Similar to the reference points of historical events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor and 9/11, our lives will forever be divided into two distinct periods: life before and life after October 7. The horror that has continued unabated since that day was accompanied by one positive thing. The division and unbridled sin’as chinam that permeated our society seemed to have dissipated.

As my husband and I walked through the streets of Yerushalayim, as we do every summer when we stay at the timeshare apartment we inherited from my parents, there was a different feel in the air. We joined the tourists and enjoyed the usual street entertainment surrounding the bustling cafes in the center of town and Mamilla. However, wherever we looked, there were reminders of the war, the soldiers who fell, the hostages who remain in captivity in Gaza.

Ping. Ping. Ping. All day long, my phone alerts me to messages coming in from the many WhatsApp groups that I joined recently. The chats are all war-related and members of the groups unite around issues close to their hearts. I don’t necessarily agree with every post or action mentioned in the groups, but I respect their sincere desire to do the right thing and improve the situation.

To get married in Israel, the couple must register with the Israeli Rabbanut by opening a file (“tik nisuin”) at their local religious council. They must bring various documents, proof of being Jewish, a certificate of kashrus from the wedding hall, and witnesses who can testify that they know the chasan and kallah as single.

The current war has not been a joyride. It was quite stressful when our son spent three months in Gaza. We were so grateful when his unit was sent home for a few days in January. This was the first time they had been sent home all at once for such a long period. My daughter-in-law gave birth during that time, and my son was able to accompany her to the birth. This was not something taken for granted at that time. Some soldiers managed to leave the field and meet their wives at the hospital when they gave birth. Those instances were often newsworthy, as many did not even manage to do that.