This Is Not a Political Piece

by Julie Egger

This is not a political piece, it is just one woman's experience of a recent trip to Israel in a time of war and mixed feelings around the world about the actions of the Israeli government.

My family and I decided to go to Israel, once again, about a year ago. My machutenum (sister-in-law and family) live near Eilat, in the south of Israel, and it was time for my nephew's Bar Mitzvah. We booked the flight and were ready to go when Israel went to war. There was about two weeks before we were to leave when we got to debating about whether we should still go or stay home. The last time we were supposed to go (for my niece's Bas Mitzvah was at the beginning of the second Intifada, and we did cancel our trip. I felt very strongly this time that we need to still go and not “bury our heads when things get tough.” I was very sure that we would not be in danger. (I was not ready to take my two daughters into a war zone.)

We went, and the trip was a good one. We visited a lot of family, both my husband's as well as some cousins I have there. We traveled to Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, Jerusalem and the Arava (which is near Eilat). We did some sightseeing: Masada, the Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, the Old City in Jerusalem, and snorkeling in Eilat. We supported my husband's family, but even more we supported Israel.

I'm not a staunch Zionist. I was not raised a Zionist but a socialist, secular Jew. But this trip was different than others. There was a lot of talk around us of the war in the north. We watched the news and spoke to my young nieces and cousins. They and others have a strong sense of ‘patriotism’ to their country. The sense I got was there is no choice. Many residents from the north had come down to Tel Aviv and Eilat to get away from the bombing, yet then took a ‘vacation.’ The energy in Israel was a bit tense, yet Israelis seem to live a full, intense life at all times. The streets and restaurants were always full and lively into the late hours of the night. The beaches were full. Walking through the Old City and the Arab sections felt fine. We were never harassed, yet the tension could have been coming from our own sense of discomfort.

This was a good trip. The girls and I practiced some of our Hebrew, we became even closer to our family in Israel, and I began to get a glimpse of what it is like to live in Israel. This trip has given me a new view of Israeli life and the politics behind it. I am not saying I am now a staunch Zionist, but I realize as an American Jew, who lives a basic life of well-being and safety, it is difficult, if not wrong to decide how Israelis should live their lives and protect themselves. Israel may be a ‘western’ country with all the privileges of America, but is is just trying to survive amongst many who would like to see it gone.

I just know, now, as one woman, that I am glad we went, and although I can't see myself living in Israel full-time, it is a place I will go to many times.

—from our September-October 2006 Newsletter

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