Israel Underground: A Familiar Drill — With Fresh Hope
"It’s 3:15 a.m. and I just woke up from loud booms, but no siren. Turns out it was from missiles that didn’t land in populated areas, so weren’t intercepted. This is getting scary."
By Michael Golden
Amid continuing military strikes following yesterday’s earth-shaking attack on the ruling government in Iran, political opinions and conjectures about next steps abound. I’m sure our writers will have some things to say about this historic event.
But tonight, I wanted to give our readers — especially in the Jewish Diaspora — a flavor of what this time has been like on the ground in Israel. So many of us in America have been communicating in real time with our brethren there. With the permission of two friends, one in Tel Aviv and the other in Jerusalem, below I share just a bit of what they’ve been experiencing and feeling over the last 36 hours.
Israelis are accustomed to making daily sacrifices in ways that Jews in America are not. I am ever mindful of this fact. While in places around the world, we worry, pray for and check in on our loved ones in the Jewish State, we know that they are always under some level of immediate threat. Now, once again, it is heightened and minute-to-minute.
We begin with Dana’s texts from Tel Aviv, at 4:22 p.m. on Saturday (all times local Israel), just a few hours before public reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader…
4:22 p.m.
“In the shelter again. So far feeling relatively safe, just very disruptive and worrying that it could escalate further. So long as the launches are minimal, our defense capabilities are robust. And the possibility that the heads of the regime have been taken out is a huge development.”
9:02 p.m.
“We had waves of sirens for 12 hours and now there’s a break.
9:23 p.m. (following the report of Khamenei’s death)
“HUGE. Going to try and get some sleep. Expect to be up again in a couple of hours max — probably from the Houthis this time…”
11:01 p.m.
“A few direct hits in Tel Aviv. We’re fine.”
Sunday 11:18 a.m.
“Went to the supermarket and got caught with a siren. So I experienced the neighborhood shelter. Quite impressed. Now home.”
4:10 p.m.
“Horrible direct hit near Jerusalem. 9 dead. Several from the same family.”
4:45 p.m.
“It was constant rockets early this morning at around 6 a.m., for about an hour, which is a long time for us to stay in the shelters (we were used to max 15-20 min). Then again at 10, then again at 12, then again at 1 and 1:30 was the big one. It’s been quiet since (it’s 4:47 now), but they’re all over the country all the time. Never been like this.”
MG: “You mean it’s worse than after 10-7…”
“Yes those weren’t ballistic missiles until the Houthis got involved. Worse than June last year.”
9:27 p.m.
“We’re okay. We’re in the the shelter. We’re tired. The waiting is so tiring. This summarizes the day perfectly. She’s a well known comedienne.”
9:31 p.m.
“It seems the day isn’t over yet. Back to the shelter…”
Monday 3:15 a.m.
“Fuck, it’s 3:15 and just woke up from loud booms but there was no siren. Turns out it was from missiles that didn’t land in populated areas so weren’t intercepted. This is getting scary.”
In Jerusalem, Steven Drucker, a friend of ours at Jewdicious and founder of DUST AND STARS Jewish history, distilled down in two comments what so many are feeling:
11:25 p.m.
“Baruch HaShem, my family are well and coping. We are feeling the pain for our extended family — the deaths and injuries of our fellow Jews. Lots of running to the public shelter, but it’s amazingly upbeat once inside. Israelis have indomitable spirit.”
11:15 a.m.
“Especially in our current world (as opposed to the one we grew up in), it’s rare to be so steadfast about the justness of a cause, and to be so proud being a part of both countries fighting this war of light versus darkness.
“I know many people worldwide, including some Diaspora Jews, are uncomfortable with witnessing strong Jews preemptively taking the initiative, but the days of the weak-kneed, submissive Jew are over. Our ancestors were warriors and now so are we — and it is an indescribable feeling.
“Across the spectrum we believe that after decades of failed agreements and diplomacy, the only way to peace is through strength. So yeah, it’s tough — for those of us in uniform and those of us on the front — but generations of Jews both past and future are counting on us.”
Many innocent lives have been lost in multiple countries since the joint attack on Iran was launched by the U.S. and Israel — including three American soldiers. President Trump has announced that more casualties are likely. The IDF has mobilized 100,000 reservists.
There is already a great debate over the decision and independent action that the Trump administration took on Saturday. That public argument, and the kinetic vortex that’s been unleashed in Iran, will only escalate in the coming weeks.
But tonight, I can’t help but think about my friends who’re climbing in and out of bomb shelters — even as I type. In their eyes, there is an actual hope that the toppling of Khamenei and other high level clerical rulers just might be a turning point for Iran — and for the rest of the world.
MICHAEL GOLDEN is the Founder & Editor-In-Chief of JEWDICIOUS and The Golden Mean.
Such important perspectives! Thank you! My heart is in Israel, and I’ve been working since November to make aliyah.
Sending my best in Israel’s direction.