For the Jewish people, New Year’s Eve is not brought in with parties, balloons, champagne toasts and fireworks….well, not usually this year it was different.

I decided at the last minute to make a little Rosh haShannah Seder and meal in thanksgiving of the great miracle the previous night. Iran launched 180-200 intercontinental ballistic missiles directly at U.S., and none fell into a populated area. Many were intercepted. Many fell into the desert. The only person killed was an escaped Hamasnik from Gaza that was walking the streets in Jericho. The fact that there were no more casualties was miraculous.

Still, there was a definite pall over the holidays. Usually, the neighbors are out wishing everyone a sweet new year, people are visiting friends and families with large gift baskets of fruit and wine and sweets and flowers. Usually people are happy and the street is lined with the cars of family members who traveled to be with their parents or grandparents. It’s a time of large family gatherings here.

The high holy days, or days of awe are also a holy time, when Jewish people attend synagogue (like many Christians go to church on Christmas and Easter). Rosh haShannah is a day when G-d in all His glory and splendor is crowned King of the Universe, King of Kings of Kings. He is sovereign and reigns supreme. It is a day when sins are confessed and forgiveness is requested both from G-d and from those we have personally wronged.

This year, everyone was instructed to stay close to a protected area. No large gatherings outdoors or indoors. Many congregations chose to split up and have smaller minyanim in community centers, private homes and the like. Even though the majority of the people turn off phones, radios, and televisions during the holiday, this year we were instructed to be able to hear the instructions of Home Front Command just in case anything was happening.

The day started off somberly. So many soldiers and reservists who had been fighting in Gaza or in Judaea and Samaria were looking forward to a short leave to go home for the holidays. Four more battalions were called up on Wednesday to serve on the Northern border. We knew there would boots on the ground imminently, but it was not something that was publicized in the news or on social media.

When I first moved here and when Max went into the army, the parents were instructed to never put down in writing on social media troop movements. “My son’s unit is being moved from central Israel to the Gaza border” for example. Or “I was driving on the highway today and saw about 50 tanks on Rte 6 heading North tying up traffic.” Or “My daughter told me hospitals are preparing for a large influx of patients because troops will be moving in.” No.No.No. We do not give up any information that could compromise our position or fall into enemy hands and be used against us. I was given these instructions repeatedly.

So it was understandable when my neighbors and landlady and other people I knew were absolutely irate at the United States. At a press conference on Wednesday, Jake Sullivan, one of the president’s top advisors leaked that the Israeli response would be limited. That the army was going into Lebanon on a limited scale. Very limited troops only 4 kilometers into the very Southeastern tip. It would be just to clear out the villages there of Hizbulla operatives to remove the threat.

Is it any wonder or surprise that just at sunrise yesterday morning, 8 of our beautiful young men walked right into an ambush and were killed? And that over 30 were evacuated to the nearest hospitals for immediate treatment?

It was indeed a sad morning. But it grew more and more – I can’t even begin to find the words…exasperating? Maddening? Suspenseful? John and I were not afraid, but all day the missiles were being lobbed across the border by Hizbulla. We would listen as the red alert would go off on my phone and we would see where the next volley was headed…. Tiberias, Migdal, Kibbuts Degania, Ein Gev, Genesseret, Kfar Nahum, Korazin; Kiryat Atta, Acco, Kiryat Motzkin, Ein ha Mifratz, Kiryat Biyalik; Kfar Vradim, Terence, Madj Al Krum, Karmi’el, Shorashim…. On and on it went all through Thursday and all through Friday….and then a lull from about 2-6am this morning. New Year’s has definitely started off with a lot of fireworks and bangs.

On Wednesday, I would prepare dinner and pack for our trip until a siren came. Then I would get under a protected space. The dangerous part is falling shrapnel, so it’s pretty important to stay somewhere that your head is covered by thick, reinforced concrete, like an inside doorway or a stairwell, if there’s no time to run to a safe room. Yesterday I did not walk to synagogue. I stayed home and prayed out of my prayer book for the holidays. Later in the afternoon I did take a couple videos of incoming, but they can be rather frightening to those who are not used to this. So I will not post those. If you want me to send Amy directly, DM me…

After hearing the siren and getting an all clear, I’d go out and take photos. Some missiles were shot down right over our heads. The local police monitored the streets continually in their patrol cars. And a text would go out from the city to warn of falling shrapnel. We were instructed to call a certain number if we saw any shrapnel or unexploded rocket parts. Do not go near them as they can be deadly. Even the mayor was out, driving around and checking on people.

We were awakened a little after 6 this morning to red alerts and the volleys of missiles – usually in groups of 10-20 have been coming over throughout the day. I’ve had to stop this writing three times already to enter into our safe room. It’s exhausting physically and mentally.

So, the UN still has not condemned Iran for the massive barrage. Te international community its says nothing about the pounding we are getting. We all say, that at Ramadan, Israel was urged to pause the fighting in Gaza so the Muslims could have their holy time. We complied, like idiots. But at the Jewish holy days? Not a word. We get pounded even harder. There is no call for Hamas, Hizbulla, Iran or any of the terror proxies to cease fire. It’s decidedly lopsided.

And then, we are really, really mad. At our own government. At the US administration. At Iran. Netanyahu made a statement on Tuesday that Israel would respond to Iran’s attack Wednesday night proportionally and soon. The US quickly got involved setting out lists of what we cannot strike: oil fields, refineries, storage facilities, manufacturing facilities, their population centers (we never go after innocent civilians), and their nuclear facilities.

Both Biden and Harris publically stated that Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel has a right, bla bla bla. To quote from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal:

After Tuesday’s missile attack, he (Biden) is already telling Israel the targets it cannot hit in self-defense. Asked Wednesday if he’d support an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the President said, “The answer is no.” This is extraordinary. Even before he talks with Mr. Netanyahu, the President engages in public lobbying aimed at blocking a sovereign state and American ally from deciding on its own what is the best response to a direct military attack on its territory.

Iran attacked Israel for the second time in six months, it Mr. Biden tells Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khameni that the U.S. will help the regime protect its most prized and threatening military asset….Mr. Biden doesn’t even wait to keep Iran guessing.

If Mr. Biden won’t take this opportunity to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, the least he can do is not stop Israel from doing the job for its own self-preservation.

Kamala Harris, on the campaign trail, yesterday (Rosh haShannah) said that she would withhold the delivery of arms to Israel. She does not support any further acts of (Israeli) agression. She is burdening us with what is to be.

On another note, John went to the bank a little while ago to use the ATM and get some money for the trip. We had a siren in our neighborhood and I saw the paths and expected targets of the 14 missiles. So they were headed for my immediate neighborhood. Marc and I ran into the saferoom, heard the booms. I waited 2 minutes and then went out. John came back a few minutes later. I asked him where he was when the siren went off. He didn’t have one. He was walking between two buildings downtown when he heard and felt the booms. He saw the puffs. Everyone that was downtown just continued about their business. Most things were closed today. But there were still people out and about going. It’s just all so weird!!!

The amazing thing is how exact the pinpointed warnings are. Our bank is just 2 miles away from our neighborhood, yet we had sirens but they did not. The technology is absolutely incredible. The precision!

The other good news is that the IDF soldiers rescued a Yazidi young woman in Gaza earlier this week.Fawzia Sido was captured in Iraq by ISIS at age 11, ripped away from her family, and sold to a Palestinian jihadist as a sex slave. She was resold later that year to a man in Gaza (who was a Hamas civilian terrorist) and held there against her will for 10 years as a sex slave. After eliminating her host/terrorist, she was taken to Israel for evaluation at a medical center. The 21 year old was escorted back to her home country where she was reunited with her family on Wednesday. Hopefully the rest of our 101 captives will also be rescued soon.

For the third time since I began writing this… it’s really getting old. We had 4 more missiles intercepted and crash right overhead. So what happens if you are in the bathroom? It’s a question asked frequently here. Showers last about 3 minutes, because one never knows…. Me? I just stay where I am. When it’s my time, it’s my time. But I’m not trying to rush down marble stairs dripping wet wrapped in a towel. Nope. Just not gonna do it. TMI-

We are almost packed and are planning on leaving tomorrow night. With a hugely long layover somewhere in Italy. I just pray we will be able to get out. And no, we will be returning right after Yom Kippur. My husband has his last scans and tests. He will be cancer free 5 years now. From Stage 3.5+ to now. It’s nothing short of miraculous, and definitely something to Hallelujah about!!

Hopefully, nothing eventful will happen over the next week. If it does, we will be on top of the news at all times. I hope I don’t have to do a blog post, but if there is anything going on, I have my neighbors and friends to keep me posted. There goes four more booms. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. House shakes. Windows rattle. It off in the distance, so…and one last thud for good measure. Prayers no one is hurt…