Well, we knew it was coming, just didn't know when. Another crazy week in the '20s here in Israel.
Thursday night was wonderful. it was a great wedding for Natie. Was fun we came together as one unit, good food, good dancing, all good. Friday was fun too, we went to the Adeloyada. Then we watched Toy Story which was nice, Friday night tefillah was beautiful in Shul, all good.
AND THEN....
A siren at 8:15 AM. Its been a while so it was kind of exciting. Once ten minutes was over, Eitan and I walked over to shul, where Charlie was also walking up. Then we found out that shul had been canceled. So Charlie said DAvening would be at them, they had a Torah. I told Shifra, dropped off Eitan, walked to my parents to let them know, and then walked with them to the Engelharts.
Davening was fine, no one knew the Torah reading on short notice, so I lained and had Charlie helping me with end of Pasuks and words. In Modin, another siren went off, Charlie sped through, and we all went into the pitch black Mamad at the Engelharts. Was an honor to be with Amichai for his first day of sirens. Then there was another couple sirens, but for those we were already smart enough to bring in kiddush and cookies (the first one was just lemon tarts).
Rumors going throughout the day (because of COURSE its always on Shabbat). We played with the kids, explained the situation, my parents came by, joined us for a siren, and then they left. Saba was in Ichilov for wounds, so that was where my main concern was.
Throughout the afternoon, every siren, I ran down to the street to bring guests who were stranded into the mamad, including many engel relatives. I think overall we had about 20 people in the mamad here throughout the day spontaneously. Needless to say there was no football. And needless to say TG we postponed our family trip. We have a bunch of people we know who are stuck, trying to get home through Egypt or other ways.
After Shabbat we learned how amazing our IDF is again, and how great of a collab we have going with the USA. We have no more enemies in the world who's names I know after Khamanei and the other recent departures. It really feels like biblical times.
No school of course for Sunday and Monday, and so we were balancing between work and playing with the kids. I built an App for our shul to coordinate megillah readings since we couldn't use the shul, and had 1600 people on the site, and 660 sign ups for megillah readings. That felt really good to contribute like that - Shul President said it was the best idea anyone at shul has had in a LONG time. And then all of a sudden, Taanit Esther Ended and it was Purim. Also Monday we filmed and edited our Purim costume theme - Paw Patrol.
I read at 6 pm at the Newmarks, 7 pm at my grandparents (Saba came home - he called to tell me what tzaddikim my parents were), then finally ate something small, and then read again at 9 pm. I always feel connected to the Megillah, but even more so this year when fighting enemies from that same place. I was expecting sirens during Megillah, made plans of what everyone would do and when to return, but ended up not needing that (I read the megillah in about 23 minutes each time). We then made our Mishloach Manot.
Next Morning I read Megillah at the Newmarks and at grandparents again. Right before I started at my grandparents, there was a siren, so we went to the Mamad and got to play backgammon with my Saba. Then I read the Megillah, hung out with the kids and Fry and parents at S + S, and then we started with Mishloach Manot. We went to our close friends and family friends. Then did deliveries for the kids. It was a really fun day for all kids. Surreal also, that we had a few sirens while delivering. One was back at the Engels, and one was outside Eitan's friends house. Both were fun, Engels for the people, and Eitan's friend for the experience of having steak and other delicious stuff they kept pushing on us.
The seuda was delicious and plentiful back here. It was definitely my least drinking on Purim since before Yeshiva, mainly because Shifra wasn't feeling well. Didn't even go to Domi for the first time in a LONG time.
Wednesday and THursday went by, and I was able to work a lot more. But we had a great time. Every night and day there are sirens and warnings on our phones etc. and I have had to leave more than a few meetings due to sirens, but thats life, and we have been through it before, and we know its temporary and we will get through it. And it is so fun to see people going about their day, partying in mamads, getting married underground - And most importantly - We are winning. By a lot. Am Yisrael Chai.
Next Purim at Esther and Mordechai in Tehran?
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