With a tenuous ceasefire in place with Lebanon, tens of thousands of Israelis who have been evacuated for over one year from Northern Israel are contemplating returning home. Israeli communities have been attacked continuously since October 8, 2023 by rockets, anti-tank misiles and drones which have led to Israelis being killed and injured as well as immense damage to industry, property, agriculture, wildlife and nature.
Israel has endured a lot of trauma in its relatively short modern history. Israelis know how to maintain some stability in wartime, how to relate to times that are anything but normal, and how to recover. The secret is a popular Israeli expression: slowly, slowly. Israelis know that recovery comes in stages and takes time. And with this approach, those who have been traumatized will succeed in regaining strength.
In September, Israeli children in some of the areas hit hardest by Hamas’ October 7th massacre returned to school in Southern Israel. This was an important milestone, although it came at a very difficult time. On the day that school was opening, there was devastating news about the return of the bodies of 6 hostages who had recently been killed by Hamas. Also on September 1st, there was a murder of Adv.-St.-Sgt.-Maj. Roni Shakuri, 61, from Sderot (the father of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Mor Shakuri who had been murdered on October 7), in a terror attack that claimed the lives of 3 police officers that morning; this was another blow to the communities that have suffered horrific losses and ongoing trauma.
Yet, September 1st, was the beginning of the school year, and the schools in Shaar HaNegev re-opened, albeit at 65% capacity. Security Chief for Shaar HaNegev, Eyal Hajbi said, “This year we don’t see the joy as we’ve seen in all the past years. Some people are still grieving from the events of the 7th of October, so the opening ceremony is celebrated more discreetly, more subdued, less joy of the children and the people who go wild here at the opening of the school year. But we also understand the great strength shown by our residents since October 7th. I repeat that like our downfall, we will rise up, God willing. We are still in sadness but we will revive ourselves and stand strong once again.”
Shachar Biran, who is originally from Kibbutz Nachal Oz, was representing Microsoft handing out chocolate milk and cupcakes to the children. Shachar goes once a week to volunteer at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. She said that it meant a lot to her to see all people of all different backgrounds who came there to show their solidarity. She said, “We sit and we talk and even though everyone has different opinions you feel so connected and a sense of brotherhood. When I speak to people (from the territories) they tell us, don’t listen to the politicians, we are with you, we are together. It warms our hearts and gives us strength.”
Security Officer of Nachal Oz Yogev Onkelin said, “Currently we are opening the school year. What you see behind me and what you see here is because the people of Israel and the residents of Shaar HaNegev chose light and chose life.”
Children and youth from 1st grade and up to 12th grade arrived at the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council’s schools wearing yellow t-shirts. Yellow ribbons, bracelets, and pins were given out to the high school children because for everyone, starting the school year while there are still hostages being held in Gaza felt wrong without keeping them fully in mind. Hajbi explained that the opening day was toned down this year out of respect for the trauma of the families and the hostages.
The principal of the Alonim Elementary School Shlomtzion Cohen was wearing a necklace she had made that represents a drop of water. She says it is a “drop of hope; this is what we have today small drops of hope.” In other words, Cohen did not need to feel that all of the trauma would magically disappear; she did not have big hopes, but rather that small drops of hope would suffice for now and lead to recovery. Cohen was excited when it started raining gently on the ceremony for the first graders. The children were concerned about the rain, but Cohen was happy to tell them that these are drops of hope. Others at the ceremony agreed that there was deep symbolism in the raindrops. Shaar HaNegev Mayor Yossi Keren remarked that either it’s the heavens crying with us or a symbol of renewal, a new start, and he prefers that latter explanation.
As some Israelis begin to return to Northern communities to rebuild homes, businesses, schools and communities that are littered with destruction from Hezbollah’s incessant attacks on Israel in the last year, they are saying that they too, will take it slowly, slowly but with the same optimism as Cohen with her “drop of hope.”
One resident of Kiryat Shmonah said on Israeli Channel Kan 11 shortly after the ceasefire began that she intially was ready to clean up on her own, but when she saw the extent of the damage, she realized she would need some help. Nevertheless, she was not deterred.
Outgoing US Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew said in an interview on Kan 11 on December 5th that the thing he would “take home with him” about Israel is “the resilience that people have.” He said, “If you described to people in America that sirens went off, phone alarms went off, Israelis went into the shelters, 9 minutes elapsed and 10 minutes later they are back on the beach playing paddle ball,” that is something uniquely Israeli. He explained, “There’s something typically Israeli about that; they have kind of internalized a degree of dealing with things that are outside of the range of normal.” Lew said that Israelis have a way of retaining at least a surface appearance of normalcy in unusual times.
Resilience and understanding that everything can be managed, one step at a time, with confidence and strength, is a great attribute of Israelis that they encourage eachother about and is a message to share with the world.
