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Nov. 24, 2006
Seeing it all firsthand
Mission to Israel reveals damage and spirit.
SHELLEY AIL
Forty-two participants from across Canada left for Israel on Oct.
22 as part of a Solidarity Mission organized by UJA Federations
Canada, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Combined
Jewish Appeal to partnership communities in the north of the country.
What we experienced was much more than what most of us had anticipated.
We visited an apartment building in Haifa with half of the front
wall blown off by a Katyusha rocket. Luckily, the resident family
was not there when it happened and repairs to the building were
almost complete.
In Nahariya, we saw not only a basement bomb shelter turned into
a fully stocked trauma unit, but an actual hospital room still left
as it was after being devastated by a rocket attack. One could only
imagine what the all-too-familiar scene of human loss would have
been if the room had been occupied.
We met with mayors and officials from Kiryat Shemona and Metulla,
communities that benefit from the programs that Vancouver Federation's
Partnership 2000 initiative supports. Their appreciation and thanks
for the quick response to their needs during the war made us feel
very proud. Canadians were the first to send not only financial
but personal support to our sister communities in the upper Galilee
region. In Greater Vancouver, there was also unprecedented support
from our community. Through the combined efforts of four major organizations,
close to $4 million has been raised to help in the immediate relief
efforts and to continue the rebuilding of the north of Israel.
At some of the schools that were hit by rocket attacks, we heard
from students and teachers who experienced firsthand what life in
the 33 days of war was like. Danziger High School suffered from
four Katuysha rocket hits. When we arrived, all repairs except for
the gym had been completed, as they wanted the students to return
with the school "back to normal." We were introduced to
members of the student council, who talked about where they were
and what they did during the war. Some fled south and felt guilty
about leaving their home town during that time. Others stayed and
organized tree-planting days to replace the thousands of trees lost
to fire during the rocket attacks. While some of our Grade 12 students
fill their days with thoughts of clothes, dating and hanging out,
these teenagers contemplate and fear where and when the next rocket
will descend upon their city. It was truly a sobering experience
for all of us.
As we gathered for a short memorial service at Kfar Giladi, where
12 soldiers lost their lives while waiting to leave for their assignments,
we were reminded of how fragile life is. Each memorial was erected
where the soldier had been standing when they were attacked. It
brought such sadness for many of us who have children and grandchildren
close in age to these young men.
Our spirits were lifted as we entered the Kol Nidre Youth Club near
Kiryat Shemona, built by three Vancouver families. Here, the youth
of the area have a place to gather, relax and forget the realities
of a country on constant alert, even if just for a short while.
We learned from the mayor of Metulla that our Canada Centre, originally
built 16 years ago, overnight became the home for more than 600
soldiers during the war. The community rallied around to provide
food and whatever else was needed during their stay.
As we drove through the streets of Kiryat Shemona, we saw blackened
trees and sometimes even a marker where the rockets had landed.
Life was back to normal, but the reminders of war were still very
visible.
The experiences were many, the emotions ran the gamut, but the message
from everyone we heard from was loud and clear. The loss of 113
soldiers is still being felt. The children are fearful when they
hear a door slam. But there remains a sense of strength and Israeli
staying power.
Shelley Ail was a participant in the recent Solidarity
Mission to Israel.
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