Re “What a Surprise: Weapons, Ammo Near Children’s Playground, Homes”
[Editor’s Note: As Hamas terrorists continue firing rockets into Israel, sending frightened residents underground, our correspondent resumes her daily update.]
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.
Soldiers in combat, however, are exempt from fasting on Tisha B'Av because doing so could endanger their lives. Even pregnant woman must fast on this holiday. In Israel, it is illegal for restaurants and places of entertainment to be open. If they are, the owners pay expensive fines.
Sunday night was quiet in my neighborhood. Rockets did not start up until yesterday morning at 6. There was supposedly another meaningless cease fire of seven hours yesterday. Considering that by 5 p.m. there had been 32 Code Red Siren alerts, it is obvious Hamas didn't cease their fire.
In addition to the war in Gaza, yesterday was sad in Jerusalem. In one incident, an Arab in a bulldozer in Jerusalem rammed a bus, turning it over on its side. Thank G-d it was the beginning of the route. Only a few people were on the bus. A pedestrian died and six others were injured. The police shot the driver of the bulldozer in his attempt to ram other vehicles. In the second incident, a terrorist on a motorcycle near the Hebrew University shot a young soldier in the stomach and fled the scene.
As more information became available, it seemed that the averted terror attack planned by Hamas for Rosh Hashana intended for the terrorists to exit tunnels and converge on various kibbutzim. They intended to infiltrate Israel and hide until kindergartens with children would open. Then they intended to kill the Israeli children before going after adults.
The following is a report about another miracle. I do not know if it is true. Considering all the other miracles in this war against terror, I believe it. The Iron Dome is amazingly 90 percent accurate, performing much better than expected. Supposedly an Iron Dome operator's battery failed three times while trying to shoot down an incoming missile from Gaza headed toward Tel Aviv. If not stopped, the missile would have hit sensitive government buildings, a train station, or buildings housing hundreds of people. Four seconds before the missile would land, a strong wind came from the east, sending the missile into the sea. The Iron Dome operator said he was stunned, shouting “There is a G-d!” Just like the story about the sudden fog protecting soldiers, this sudden wind saved lives.
For those who are fasting, have an easy fast.
L'hitraot. Shachar