And I am caught up in my own thoughts, of bereaved families and children in Har Nof afraid to play outside. I think of my own children, and my role in bringing them to Israel where we believe G-d wants us, but where the threat of terrorism is real. But my children are not afraid, and after seven years here, they have no desire to return to the U.S.
I tried to reassure my daughter by mentioning to her that it’s quieter in the North. She responded, “I know, but I sort of feel like I should be closer to what’s happening. You know what I mean?” I do.
I remember when a friend visited us shortly after former-Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was assassinated. I said to him, “It’s lucky you weren’t here last week. It was really hard.” At the time his response surprised me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here,” he said, “because that was what was going on with the Jewish people. Hard as it was, I wish I could have been a part of it.”
It’s hard for us. All of us. But this is what’s happening to the Jewish people, and we’re here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Our enemies may try to scare us away, but they will not succeed. We, and our children, are staying.