[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img] Dateline Jerusalem — I was a Girl Scout. My mother was our Brownie Troop leader. That was over 50 years ago. When my oldest daughter was of age, I followed in my mother's footsteps. Following family tradition, I understand that my granddaughter also will be saying the Girl Scout motto, “Be Prepared!” Since California and Israel both have earthquake fault lines overdue to erupt, G-d forbid, I have kept my earthquake supplies throughout my home. I am prepared, not just for earthquakes but for possible war.
The chances of a major quake in Israel, however, are the least of my worries. The chance of a full-blown war has better odds. With the Arab Spring, unruly mobs attacked the Israeli Embassy in Egypt, forcing the airlift of personnel with blatant disregard to international law. Threats of similar menace and upheaval to the Israeli Embassy in Jordan resulted in this week's evacuation of Israeli diplomats. Israel signed peace agreements with both countries, exchanging land hard won in battle for this now tenuous “peace.” Now the Palestinians intend to declare statehood in the U.N. with their claim that the entire State of Israel has been an illegal territory since 1948 and must be returned to the Palestinians without Jews. I hope I do not have to be prepared for a repeat of the worst.
They Can Reach Me
The newspaper a couple of weeks ago listed my town as one within the reach of rockets and missiles should the Palestinians follow through with their threats. Of course, it seems that there is not a city in all of Israel that is safe. I do not have a “secure room” built into my apartment as my apartment building is old. I must run down four flights of stairs to the basement shelter. Considering it was locked when we had a drill a couple of months ago, and considering I never would make it there in time once the siren sounds, I must be prepared for the alternative.
I must have a secure place with fresh water, food, and a well-functioning gas mask, and be able to survive without electricity and cable. My computer, TVs and telephones are on cable so once it is down I have no means of communication other than my cell phone. Who knows whether that will work. I have cartons of bottled water, cans of food, and flashlights throughout my home. But, I really have no safe place because of all the outside windows and glass doors within my apartment. Israel had a shortage of wood, so the doors to all the rooms in my apartment are made of glass with thin strips of wood along their perimeters. Although apartment stairwells have been suggested as places to stay if basement shelters are unavailable, I looked outside my door and found that the floor above me has a large crack splitting it almost in half. It looks as though it is ready to collapse now.
Last Shabbat I got a taste of what it would be like without electricity. As I was enjoying a peaceful Shabbat lunch with friends, one of them thought she smelled fire. Then there was a loud popping sound coming from the old and obviously overworked air conditioner unit. The lights went out, and there was no electricity. At least it happened after lunch. My guests had warm food, but because it was Shabbat, none of us could go into the corridor and check the fuse box until approximately an hour after sundown. Religious Jews do not turn on and off electricity during Shabbat. My guests left, and I remained alone in my apartment, the last hour of Shabbat, sitting in the dark. As soon as Shabbat ended, I groped my way about the apartment until I found one of my emergency flashlights and made my way to the fuse box to flip the switches and turn on the electricity.
The incident prepared me for life without electricity should there be an earthquake or war. I learned to acclimate my eyes to the dark. I could find my water and food and flashlights. Like a blind person I made my way around furniture and other objects without injuring myself. I survived the heat and humidity of Israel's summer day without air conditioning or fans. Although I could not read in the dark, I found that I could remember certain prayers. Most of all, I was able to communicate with Hashem (G-d) on a higher level than usual. It was as though this was preparation for what may be ahead in the next few weeks, G-d forbid. I felt like a Girl Scout once again.
Although I am prepared for the worst, I remain eternally optimistic for the best. The Hebrew word “shalom” means “peace.” I hope there will be peace in the Middle East.
L'hitraot. Shachar.