12/27/12: NEW POSTS

Check out my new site for two posts on my trip to Karmiel and my Christmas in Nazareth!

jordanasimone.wordpress.com 

12/12/12

http://jordanasimone.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/121212-in-honor-of-the-date-go-fish/

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12/8-9/12: The Little Things: Maagan Michal Day 2+ the Perfect Date

http://jordanasimone.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/128-912-the-little-things-maagan-michael-day-2-a-perfect-date/

12/7/12:A Whole New Way Of Life: Ma'agan Michael Day 1

Hello everyone! If you haven't found my new blog home yet here is the link again. Check out my post on my time at the Kibbutz!!

jordanasimone.wordpress.com 

NEW BLOG HOME!

Hello dear readers! Due to some unforeseen complications with google blogger my blog has found a new home! You can continue reading all of my posts here:

jordanasimone.wordpress.com :-) 

11/21/12: Terror In Tel Aviv: The Return Of The Bus Bomb

Things were finally starting to look up for those of us in Tel Aviv. It had been two days with no alarms sounding that rockets were coming in from Gaza. Our beautiful Jerusalem had been targeted and hit, severe damage was caused when a rocket fell in Rishon Letzion (just outside of Tel Aviv), and a soldier and citizen were killed in the south in a rocket attack, but Tel Aviv remained quiet. I can only guess that the quiet we experienced, the brief hiatus from thinking that every odd sound from wind to car alarms was an alert to run and hide, was the silence that is heard before the actual storm...

I was in my Ulpan class thoroughly engrossed in my studies when a classmate said she heard a rumor that a bomb went off somewhere in Tel Aviv. Everyone checked their phones and various news outlets but nothing seemed to have happened; at least nothing was reported. Only a few minutes later, in the midst of our lesson, did another teacher come in telling us to stop what we were doing and call everyone we know to let them know we were safe, and to check and make sure that our loved ones were ok. A bomb had gone off on a bus in the center of Tel Aviv. 21 people were injured, 4 critically. My heart sank. I discovered that the bomb went off on a bus that was traveling down Weitzman Street at the corner of Shaul Hamelech. I know this doesn't mean anything to most of you, but that is on my exact route home from my ulpan. In fact, just yesterday I was riding my bike through that exact spot to get home. I was shaking I was so scared. I immediately tried to get ahold of Stephane and Ida but, of course, the phones weren't working. I texted each of them, received texts and messages from friends and my roommates checking to see what was going on with everyone, and I finally got through to discover that both Ida and Stephane were unharmed.

Photo from the scene of the attack 

A few minutes later I received a call from Stephane's mom and found out that both she and Stephane's little brother were safe and unharmed. All I could do was thank God that everyone I love was ok. Since I had spent the night at Stephane's last night, and when this happens and his mother takes me to class I take a bus home since I am without my bike, I had no idea what to do or how to get home. Many of the roads to my house were blocked, there was a police and army pursuit for the two suspects who put the bomb on the bus (it was not a suicide bombing), and I was scared to death to even be on the roads at all considering that this bomb went off right near where I live. There were a few people from my Ulpan class who live near me who decided to walk so I thought it would be a very good idea to join them and go as a group. As I was walking, however, I received a message from Stephane's mom telling me to stay where I was because she was coming to get me. I was so relieved and happy that I wanted to cry. I have no family here and when a tragedy like this happens it is the best feeling in the world to know that you have people who want to help take care of you. I may be almost 25 but I still need family, so, while I can't have mine, I have the best alternative in the world with Stephane, his mother, and his little brother.

Stephane was picked up first, then I was taken from the Ulpan, and then we went to get his little brother. Once we were all together I was a bit more relaxed, and then I was fine once learning that Ida was safe and sound, but it was one of the most emotionally trying days I have ever had. Tensions were high, everyone was scared out of their minds, and the whole mood of the city changed. My Ulpan teacher made an interesting comment after news of the bomb had broken. She seemed worried but said "this is Israel. This is our life here. It is scary but we have to keep living". We have to keep living... I know many people have expressed concern over my decision to stay here during such a time of turmoil, but to abandon Israel now is not even an option for me. In the wake of disaster you see just how amazing this tiny, little country and her citizens truly are, and there is no place I feel more safe or more protected than I do here in Israel. Here is where my life has purpose, meaning, love, passion, excitement, and so much more, and to run away from that would be madness. I am so touched by every message I have received from friends near and far, and assure you that I am doing everything to remain as safe as possible. Your caring, kind words have brightened my life during a very dark time here in Israel, and I can't find the words to express my gratitude at your thoughts and prayers for the safety of myself, my loved ones, and my country.

Please pray for Israel. She, unfortunately, is an underdog in a world of people who love to hate her. But let me tell you about Israel. This country would do anything for its citizens who in turn would give their lives to protect her. The people of this country may be tough and have strong characters, but if you ever needed anything, most people here would open their homes to a stranger with no questions asked for the simple pleasure of giving help to someone in need. Yes Israel is a military state, and yes she fights hard, but if she didn't she wouldn't exist. This is the homeland of every Jew in the world, and though it is a Jewish state, Christians and Muslims live freely, and flourish, within her borders, side by side with Jews from all over the world. It is a true paradise, my home, and the most special, wonderful country in the world. Pray for us all, they are prayers and support that we desperately need.

Until we meet again <3,
Jordana Simone

11/18/12: What You See You Must Believe: Rockets In Tel Aviv

The Iron Dome 

I thought it would be a quiet day... Up until now we have only had alarms go off once per every 24 hour period so I had reason to hope that if anything did happen it would only happen once. I was wrong... The first alarm sounded while I was in the middle of my Ulpan lesson. I could only hear a whisper of the alarm but the students flying out of the classrooms to the stairways confirmed my suspicion that an alarm had indeed sounded. The explosion the rockets made as they were taken down by the Iron Dome system was much easier to hear. 10 minutes we waited outside until we were sure it was safe to reenter the classroom. Normally my classroom is on the top floor of the building, but since the conflict began with Gaza we have been moved to the second level in case a rocket strikes the building. The next half of an hour or so were dedicated to everyone calling or receiving calls from their loved ones. The rule that cell phones have to be off during class has indefinitely been lifted while tensions run high in Israel. The most important thing is to be in touch with those we love to make sure they are ok, and that can't be suspended during class time.

Thankfully the rest of the morning went on without any disturbances, however, this was my first time being outside of either my home or Stephane's home during an alarm, so the experience was quite new for me. It is amazing being surrounded by so many others and knowing that you fear is not without reason, or that you are not overdramatizing the severity of the situation. I made it home with no problems that day, set off to do my homework, and then was invited to spend the night Stephane's apartment. It is hard for me not to be with him at night, especially during a time like this, because if God forbid something was to happen I would not want to be with anyone else (except my sister Ida). Because Tel Aviv had already had it's daily alarm I was not nervous about traveling to his place, which is about 25 minutes away from my own, and requires some walking through non sheltered areas. But, like I previously stated, there has not been a day since the fighting started that Hamas has sent missiles into Tel Aviv more than once in a 24 hour period.

Around 6pm I readied myself and headed out to catch the Monit Sherut (shared taxi) that would take me within 2 blocks of Stephane's apartment. As I was walking to get to the sherut I called my father because I figured it would be a perfect time to catch him up on everything that was going on here. I remember talking about the missiles, talking about the situation with Gaza and the greater Arab world, talking about how people think I should come home (to which he gave his full support and understanding of my decision and really my inability to leave Israel), and by the time I realized what was going on, it was time for me to exit the sherut and walk about 2 blocks the rest of the way. I said goodbye to my dad, jumped out of the taxi, and was on my way.

The rest happened so fast I almost didn't even realize what was going on. I was about a block down from where I exited the cab, in the middle of a crosswalk, when the sirens sounded. I was frozen I couldn't believe what was going on. Cars stopped, people exited their vehicles, some pulling their children out, and ducked down on the floor beside their cars. I was next to a girl about my age and we had no idea what to do so we laid down on the ground with our hands over our heads (like that would actually help at all). The next thing I know I see people pointing at the sky and I look up to see two rockets heading straight for Tel Aviv. The almost looked like planes with orange lights; just two little dots up in the sky. The first rocket was Hamas's, and the second was launched from Israel's Iron Dome interception system. I saw them both in the air, I saw the Iron Dome rocket approach the one launched by Hamas, and then I saw them explode in mid air upon collision. It looked like fireworks, but the sound of the explosion that rocked the city a few seconds after was nothing short of terrifying. I could almost feel the ground shake it was so loud.

Only a few seconds after I received a call from Stephane who was extremely worried because I was outside. I could tell he felt really bad. After assuring him I was ok, while running to try to get near some shelter or cover, I calmed down enough to call Ida and then get in touch with my dad to let him know what happened. I felt like I was in a movie it was so surreal. Seeing everything happen right in front of my face. Seeing all of this an knowing that there are still so many people out there who think we are baseless aggressors who are shamefully attacking the innocent people of Gaza... I will end this post with a plea to anyone and everyone who reads what I write:

I know what you read and hear and see on the Western Media outlets. It pains me because so much of it is blatantly untrue. I implore you all to please check facts before immediately believing what you see. The Hamas organization knows what its doing, and has always been good with PR. It places rocket launching sites, and weapon storage spaces, in residential areas (in homes, schools, even Mosques), so that when Israel targets these sites that are responsible for reeking havoc on our country, they maximize civilian casualties. They use their citizens as shields and do so willingly to look the part of the victimized martyrs. Yes innocent people die and I have nothing but compassion and sympathy for those who are killed because of the tactics of Hamas. Anyone who knows me knows I am the farthest thing you can get from being anti-Palestinian. But this operation started because of unrelenting bombardment of Southern Israel with hundreds of rockets, and if you think your countries would do anything different you are living in a dream world and NEED to wake up. You might ask how is it that the death tole in Gaza is reaching 100, while in Israel only 3 have died? To that I have one thing to say. Israel, above anything else, values the lives of its citizens, and does anything in her power to protect them. We are battling $500 dollar rockets from Gaza with $100,000 dollar rockets to knock them down, spending millions on safety and security because you can't put a price on people's lives. In Gaza they are putting rocket launching sites in homes and schools so that when Israel attacks said sites civilians die while they do nothing to protect their own. I bet you did't know that Israel broadcasts, sends text messages, and drops pamphlets in Gaza to announce when and where they will attack so that people can clear those areas... BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT! Hamas has also started reproducing pictures of deaths that happen in Syria and advertising that they are the deaths of Gazans and the hands of the Israelis. Please, for the love of all that is good, check what you see before believing it. There is more to this story than you are getting and it is vital you know the facts.

Pray for peace because we are going to need both your prayers and support.

Until we meet again,
Jordana Simone