It is Thursday. Hard to believe that military action here in the north is in its ninth day. We were awakened this morning at 5:30 AM by the sound of the sirens. As their sounds faded we heard nothing else, no sounds of landing rockets; so back to sleep.
Most of the rest of this day was quiet. We went about our life here in a somewhat more normal fashion. Pat took her friend for a physical therapy appointment at the large Haifa Mall, called the Grand Kanyon; Kanyon is the Hebrew word for mall. When they got there they found that the mall was almost completely shut down. No stores were open, not even a cup of coffee was available.
So back they came to our neighborhood where there was some activity and where there is a nice bakery and coffee shop. The place was full! People were out and about, shopping, driving, riding the buses. Again there was much less traffic on the roads. They have been working on improving the major intersection in our neighborhood, adding extra traffic lanes. No work on this project this past week. Mail delivery is sporadic but the post office is keeping regular hours.
We decided to try getting to the gym this afternoon. We both really wanted some exercise. We learned that the gym would be open from 9 AM to 9 PM but there would be no classes offered.
There were some people working out at the gym; no waiting for machines. Then we went to the biggest supermarket, appropriately called "Supersol Big" to shop for dinner and for Shabbat.
Remember, it is Thursday, usually a big pre-Shabbat shopping day. There was plenty of room in the aisles and, if you looked carefully you could tell that some stock was getting low or not there altogether. That is surely the effect of "the situation". Where have all the Haifa folks gone?
Tonight, during dinner, we could hear booms in the distance yet there were no sirens. What was that all about?
Tomorrow night begins Shabbat. Shabbat comes whether we are ready or not. That is one of its blessings. We plan to have guests for dinner; that is what one does. It is not good to have Shabbat alone, especially now. Our congregation will hold services in the bomb shelter of the Reform synagogue because our facility is not safe enough with huge windows on all sides. May Shabbat peace make itself felt on both sides of the "blue line".
Love, Frank
Most of the rest of this day was quiet. We went about our life here in a somewhat more normal fashion. Pat took her friend for a physical therapy appointment at the large Haifa Mall, called the Grand Kanyon; Kanyon is the Hebrew word for mall. When they got there they found that the mall was almost completely shut down. No stores were open, not even a cup of coffee was available.
So back they came to our neighborhood where there was some activity and where there is a nice bakery and coffee shop. The place was full! People were out and about, shopping, driving, riding the buses. Again there was much less traffic on the roads. They have been working on improving the major intersection in our neighborhood, adding extra traffic lanes. No work on this project this past week. Mail delivery is sporadic but the post office is keeping regular hours.
We decided to try getting to the gym this afternoon. We both really wanted some exercise. We learned that the gym would be open from 9 AM to 9 PM but there would be no classes offered.
There were some people working out at the gym; no waiting for machines. Then we went to the biggest supermarket, appropriately called "Supersol Big" to shop for dinner and for Shabbat.
Remember, it is Thursday, usually a big pre-Shabbat shopping day. There was plenty of room in the aisles and, if you looked carefully you could tell that some stock was getting low or not there altogether. That is surely the effect of "the situation". Where have all the Haifa folks gone?
Tonight, during dinner, we could hear booms in the distance yet there were no sirens. What was that all about?
Tomorrow night begins Shabbat. Shabbat comes whether we are ready or not. That is one of its blessings. We plan to have guests for dinner; that is what one does. It is not good to have Shabbat alone, especially now. Our congregation will hold services in the bomb shelter of the Reform synagogue because our facility is not safe enough with huge windows on all sides. May Shabbat peace make itself felt on both sides of the "blue line".
Love, Frank
posted by Frank and Pat Fischer at 10:30 PM
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