October 7 2023
Shabbat Shalom
Please keep Israel in your prayers.
Psalms 122:6-9
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.
We were woken up today (Oct. 7th) at 06:30 by sirens wailing and loud explosions.
Hamas carried out a massive surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Over 3000 rockets have been launched into Israel.
There have been many direct rocket hits on south and central Israel by missiles from Gaza.
Hamas terrorists have infiltrated Israel from Gaza and are randomly shooting at civilians in the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip.
Hamas terrorists have abducted Israeli citizens and soldiers and have transferred them to the Gaza Strip.
Having lived here for over twenty years, dealing with terrorist attacks, war and rockets and missiles from Hamas in Gaza in the south and Hezbollah in the north is not new to us.
The girls, age 19, 15 and 12 have grown up with this reality.
Our eldest is serving in the IDF - Israeli Defense Forces.
We follow the Home Front regulations and do our best to keep safe.
However, this attack is unprecedented in the high number of casualties in such a short time with tens of hostages being held in Gaza.
As of now there are over seven hundred dead and over two thousand two hundred people have been reported injured and the numbers are rising. (Oct. 8 20:20)
We are about 40KM from Gaza which gives us 90 Secs to get to the bomb shelter.
At the sound of the sirens we run to the stairwell or to the bomb-shelter on the ground floor of our apartment building.
The Safe Room - Bomb Shelter
Day 2
For many, this morning’s surprise attack brings back memories of the 1973 War of Atonement. On October 6 1973 Egypt and Syria led Arab armies in a multi front surprise attack on Israel.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and most people were fasting and praying at the synagogue.
Yesterday, October 6th, marked fifty years since the Yom Kippur war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that this is not another military operation: We are at war!
We are following the developments very closely and understand that the situation is very delicate. Analysts are considering the high number of hostages held in Gaza in planning attacks from the air and the timing, depth and duration of a ground incursion.
The Government of Israel and the Defense Establishment are preparing us for the high probability of a multi front regional conflict, which in addition to Hamas in Gaza, would involve Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and other terror groups in Judea and Samaria (The West Bank), the involvement of the Israeli Arab population within our borders and and even a confrontation with Iran.
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