By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — When I ordered the book entitled Love in the Blitz: The Long-Lost Letters of a Brilliant Young Woman to her Beloved on the Front by Eileen Alexander I was not aware of its relevance to my current life. As I read, marveling at the writer’s literary talent, sense of humor and ability to cope with the course her life was taking, I was not aware of the parallels to my situation.
However, as Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon continues, with the possibility of its further extension to Iran, I am reminded more and more frequently of the Blitz, when Nazi Germany bombed England. The resilience and spirit of resistance of the Londoners at the time is a legend in our own time, serving as a model for us here in Israel as rockets rain down upon us from the north and the south, supplemented by ballistic missiles from Iran. Only the defense and interception systems of Israel and its allies preserve us from the wholesale death and destruction our enemies seek to inflict on us.
As I read Eileen Alexander’s letters I was struck by the way she managed to continue with her daily ablutions as well as her social life of luncheon engagements at restaurants,, tea parties at home and attending the theatre of an evening, keeping up with her wide circle of friends, acquaintances and relatives.
But over the course of the last year I have found myself in a somewhat similar situation, albeit with less intensity than the bombing of London in WWII. I live just outside Jerusalem, and this central part of Israel has been less subjected to rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah, though the missiles from Iran have been directed here. The bottom line is that we have not had to go to our bomb shelter as often as our compatriots in the north and south of the country.
As a result, we have developed a schizophrenic way of life here.
It is late summer, with blue skies, gentle sunshine and moderate temperatures, the most idyllic climate that anywhere has to offer. King David knew what he was doing when he designated Jerusalem as his capital. The parks and gardens are still blooming, and although we know that the weather will get cooler and the rain will begin in a week or two, in the meantime we can go on with our lives in its usual pleasant way, going for walks, seeing friends and family members, going shopping, meeting a friend for coffee or eating in a restaurant. Shops are open, children go to school and it seems as if life is continuing as usual. Until, that is, one or another of our enemies decides that it’s time to send bombs, rockets or missiles in this direction.
But all the time, alongside our relatively pleasant way of life, our compatriots in the north and south of the country, are subjected to an almost incessant barrage of rockets, with constant sirens and alarms, causing them to seek shelter in one or another of the safe rooms or bomb shelters with which almost every town and village in Israel is equipped. The whole country is aware of the alerts on the radio and TV, and we know that while we are enjoying our usual calm routine other denizens of Israel are not. Our minds are beset by concern for our compatriots, who may also be friends and relatives in those parts of the country, and our social networks are busy with constant requests for information regarding their welfare.
Thus, as we are live a surreal existence of apparent normality and constant concern for others, we are also beset by uncertainty as to what lies ahead for us.
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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and freelance writer based in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion, Israel.