School Daze

September 3, 2006 - 11:43 AM by

Nicky had these observations about the first day of school.

My son started school this morning. We waved him off as he got on the bus, his new school bag almost bigger than him. He hardly slept last night for excitement, and when he woke this morning he complained that his tummy hurt, and he was too nervous to eat.
A few days earlier our village held a special ceremony for the children going up to Kita Aleph, those moving on to high school, and the 18-year-olds heading off for the army. It’s an event our small village holds every year, and it’s a joyful, happy affair. Yoni, my son got up on stage with the 12 other children going to Kita Aleph and danced exuberantly to music, school bag on his shoulders, mischievous smile on his face. Then came the older children, then finally the new soldiers.
“When we went to Kita Aleph our parents thought we would never serve in the army,” one of the teenagers told the parents. “But here we are on our way.”
Tears sprang into my eyes as I looked at that line of young men and women. With one war still reverberating behind us, and another much worse one most likely on the way, it was hard to feel anything but sadness and trepidation as I looked at their fresh, hopeful faces.
From Yoni to them, what’s the distance? Thirteen years ago, the parents of these teenagers were sure that Israel would be at peace. Today I don’t think anyone believes that, however desperately they want it.
In 13 years, it will be Yoni up on that stage again. School bag gone. This time he could be heading to fight, not to study.
A friend sitting next to me read my thoughts. “You’ve got three soldiers there,” she said, gesturing to my three sweet boys – the youngest of whom is just six months.
It’s not easy to live in Israel, and this is something that people living in the safety of Europe and the US cannot understand. So many of those people who criticize, condemn, and slam Israel, have no idea of the reality of living in this tiny troubled country. It’s impossible to forget war here even at the most jubilant of times. It’s impossible to forget that our children will probably have to fight. It’s impossible to forget that we are surrounded by hostile neighbors who aren’t just looking to resolve a few thorny conflicts, but are actually seeking to wipe Israel off the map. That’s everyone.
I don’t always agree with Israeli policies, in fact I probably rarely agree, but when you take all those things into account, when you end up reflecting on war when your child starts school, then inevitably your attitude towards security looks very different.

Tags: • Category: A New Reality, Israeliness, Life 

Comments

2 Comments on School Daze

  1. David on Sun, Sep 3rd 2006 1:50 PM

    2. No, it is not easy to live in Israel, but Israel also does not do everything it can to improve things either. There is still the pervasive ideology of socialism that makes it more aid dependent on the United States than it would be. Perhaps even allow it to be free if it tried.

    Securiity wise it follows a form of the “Just War Theory” which is a method based not on Jewish law but Christian doctrine written by St Augustine.

    Essentially it works to put Israeli troops at risk when enemy civilians are in “danger”. This happened in Jenin and recently in Lebanon. It cost Israeli troops deaths and is utterly immoral.

    I think people in NYC and London have an idea what it is like to expect attacks. There was that “little incident” on Sep 11 and Britain for years dealt with bombings from the IRA before the current problems. Israeli does not have a lock on risk.

    Secondly, military families in the United States today are involved in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and understand that America would send help to its allies were they ever in danger.

    There is no conscription in the US or UK sure, but I think it unfair for you to claim a special “burden” that Israelis have. It is a different burden. Others have their problems too.

    And Americans do understand. The aid that America mostly willingly sends to Israel comes from the money earned by working Americans.

  2. caroline Gaibel on Sun, Sep 3rd 2006 2:15 PM

    3. I can so empathise with you…these are my thoughts and feelings entirely. I grieve that the situation has to be this way for such wonderful people In Israel. I hope that the reality will improve soon.

    Caroline in sharon

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