Dateline Jerusalem – Yesterday was relatively quiet, people out and about, their lives once again on track. Yet every ambulance siren, every door- slamming makes us jumpy. Such a pleasure to walk around, to enjoy the beauty of Israel, the blue skies, the palm trees, the scent of fruit trees, the unique, colorful palette of flowers and plants in bloom. What a great feeling, to shower without worrying about the sirens going off.

Dateline Jerusalem – Because the saddest day in Jewish history, Tisha B’Av, began last night and continues until tonight, my update for yesterday will end early. I will begin a fast of no food or water for 25 hours, go to synagogue to hear Eicha (Lamentations), and return home to sit on a low stool or the floor while reading kinnot, a series of liturgical dirges lamenting the destruction of the Holy Temples and exile of the Jews from the Land of Israel. Also included are dirges lamenting the exiles of Jews throughout Europe, various massacres of Jews, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and the Holocaust. It is a day when horrible things happen to Jews.

Re “Hamas Version of Humanitarian Aid: Load of Cement Mixers”

Re “Israel Had No Choice but to Fight a Ground War”

Dateline Jerusalem – I had just come back yesterday from a jaunt to my stairwell after the Red Code Alert sirens had wailed. A little problem unlocking my front door, but still made it into the shelter of the stairwell in record time. I am getting great exercise running to the stairwell every day. What a social life I have, meeting many neighbors while the sirens scream and the booms of rockets exploding assault our ears.

Dateline Jerusalem — What a way to start a Tuesday, or shall I say finish it? Officially it was a new day, but I had yet to go to sleep. Good thing I don't go to bed before the wee hours. I was fully dressed and alert at 2:30 a.m. when the sirens wailed across my area. A few people half dressed, half asleep tumbled out into the stairwell. Others brought their pillows with them. One lady was dressed in a towel. I guess the rest …

Dateline Jerusalem – The month of Av, the saddest on the Hebrew calendar, began yesterday. It started quietly, an occasional Code Red Alert siren blaring. But it was the last day of the Islamic religious month of Ramadan. Increased rocket fire was expected from Gaza as the day wore on. I should be immune to the sirens, alarms, booms, thuds by now. I am not.

Dateline Jerusalem – Updating Sunday’s events, all has been quiet on the local front, my neighborhood. Unfortunately, though, I cannot say that for the rest of Israel. Hamas asked for another “humanitarian” ceasefire. When Israel agreed to it, Hamas immediately started sending rockets into Israeli cities. Not unlike a child going through the terrible twos, if Hamas does not get all its demands met, it continues in a tantrum. Only a Hamas tantrum is deadly.

Dateline Jerusalem — Only 56 Code Red Siren Alerts yesterday. However, that doesn't mean only 56 rockets. Sometimes several rockets are launched consecutively at Israel and only one siren sounds. One time we counted eight booms, the sound made when the Iron Dome shoots them down. But there was only one siren for all eight.

Dateline Jerusalem – Yesterday, 112 rockets were launched at Israel. While yakking on the telephone with a friend and watching the Code Red Alerts buzzing, flashing on my computer, we were rudely interrupted by blaring sirens and booms. This necessitated a trip to my stairwell. One man, and the rest were infants, small children, and women. I probably was the oldest.