Proud of an Israeli Soldier I Never Knew

     It is the Jewish Press' 25th Anniversary here in Tampa and as I read an article in the paper I began to cry.
The article was about a Tampa Bay "Solidarity" mission to Israel during the Gulf War.  The Tampa mission was the ONLY group to go to and remain in Israel throughout the Scud missile attacks.  The part that made me tear up was when they told of a terrifying moment in their trip.  The 12 American Jews from Tampa, were seated at dinner.  The alarm of an impending missile strike went off and they were forced to abandon their meal and seek refuge at the highest point of the building (to avoid nerve gas).  They all donned their gas masks with one exception.  There was a very young girl, not much older than 18.    She was a soldier in the IDF.  She did not have a gas mask.  Many in the room offered their masks to her.  She refused, choosing instead to potentially offer up her own life to spare the lives of civillians.
     To me THIS IS Israel, Israelis, and every IDF soldier.  To me... THIS is what they stand for.  This is the mentality of the people there.  They would sacrifice anything to spare an innocent life, even if it meant offering up their own instead.  This is what I saw when I lived among them.  These people are kind, and incredibly giving.  They would give you anything they could if you were in need.  I love that about these people.
    Israel, and her people, give hope to the meaning of humanity, chivalry, courage.  They are a people to be truly proud of.  And as I do hold an Israeli citizenship... I am VERY proud to count myself as one among them.
     I may have only been a child of 6, not even an American citizen yet, when this soldier made such a brave choice; but her heart means as much to me now as it did for those 12 American souls in that room in the heart of the Gulf War Crisis.

Happy 25th Anniversary to the Jewish Press here in Tampa!  And thank you for sharing such a touching story.  It was a reminder of the good people I left behind in the land I call my home.

Purim

Purim… Last year was an oddity. This year… an experience. Aside from the fact that I dropped my iPhone and shattered the glass screen. Luckily I didn’t break the LCD screen. After Shabbat on Saturday I went with Rivka and her family to the synagogue to hear the Migillah (the Story of Ester). After the services I went down to the lobby and during an attempt to take a few photos… Crack. Apparently marble floors are bad for phones. Oops, who knew. The first night of Purim was slow. Just the synagogue services and a trip back to Jerusalem, but Sunday night was a little different.

After spending all night working on my Madonna costume and having a light dinner with friends we set out. First was a small and tightly packed bar with Rivka, and several of her friends from work. It was fun until Rivka decided she wanted to go home early. She insisted that I stay and enjoy my night with Gal and some of the other girls. So I did. I met some weird kids who followed me around like puppy dogs for a while and then Gal and I left to go to another bar… Shoshana.

Shoshana was a reminder that I am not 18 anymore. I danced with friends for a while, had a few shots of Vodka, had Arrack (a licorice type of clear liquor that I hate BTW) poured all over me. Literally all over my shirt. Apparently the bartender can’t pour a bottle shot to save his life. Later in the evening I found myself dancing on the bar with Gal. Again, flashback… remember Chris… lol

The evening ended earlier than I would have liked but I still had fun. I guess that was the important part… to experience, document, and have fun. Here’s to hoping next year will surpass the last. Never know… maybe next year we’ll go crazy in Tel Aviv!