Islamic Jihad, Iran, Syria, Gaza - Why Israel Needs Your Support

Islamic Jihad, Iran, Syria, Gaza - Why Israel Needs Your Support


Four Israelis were murdered today by Hamas terror rockets from Gaza. 

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem, Israel --- November 14, 2012 ... Why does Israel need your support?
It's called democracy. Preserving democratic values, freedom and security in the US, Europe and in the Middle East.

As you read this article, Israel faces a host of growing, lethal threats: 137 rockets from Gaza in the last four days, mortar fire from Syria and continuing terror attacks from Sinai. At the same time, the Palestinian leadership refuses to negotiate with Israel while Iran crudely threatens the Jewish state and advances its nuclear weapons program.

At this critical moment, it is vitally important for Americans to unequivocally support Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and its current security operations to defend its citizens.

Israel is facing a dramatic increase in Islamic terror attacks along three borders and weapons buildups elsewhere.

Since Saturday, terrorists in Gaza have launched over 140 rockets. Since the beginning of the year, terrorists in Gaza have struck Israel with nearly 800 rocket attacks. In response, Israel is carrying out targeted operations against Hamas leaders and long-range rocket launching sites, which directly place 1 million men, women and children under the threat of attack.

For the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Syrian army fire has endangered Israelis. Mortar shells have landed near a farm and bullets hit an Israeli patrol jeep. While attributed to the civil war in Syria, such attacks are serious violations of the armistice and could lead to wider conflict.

Israel must also contend with increased dangers from Sinai, which has experienced a marked uptake in lawlessness, an increased presence of global Jihadist groups and a dramatic increase in the number and types of sophisticated weaponry. During the past year and a half, eight Israelis have been killed in cross-border attacks emanating from Sinai. Four rockets were fired into Israel from Sinai on Nov. 14.

In Lebanon, Iran backed Hezbollah has amassed more than 60,000 long and short-range rockets and missiles - 10 times what it had during the 2006 war with Israel - while Syria and Iran have 3,500 missiles aimed at Israel, the IDF’s Military Intelligence research section told the Knesset earlier this year.

PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas refuses to negotiate with Israel. Instead, he is seeking “statehood” at the UN General Assembly.

Abbas continues to refuse to sit down at the negotiating table with Israel despite repeated efforts by Israel to condition the environment for talks, including helping the Palestinian economy and removing barriers to Palestinian travel in the West Bank. Instead of negotiating, Abbas insists he will push forward on November 29 with an effort to garner nonmember state observer status at the U.N. General Assembly, and subsequently, use this recognition to attack Israel in international legal fora.

Such efforts at the United Nations only serve to undermine Israel’s confidence in the PLO as a legitimate partner for peace and could cause a further breakdown in relations between the parties, making it even more difficult to resume negotiations in the future.

President Obama has described the Palestinian bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations as a “counterproductive” measure and a “distraction” that would impede efforts to create a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel. Abbas reportedly rebuffed a personal request by Obama this past weekend urging him to withdraw his request for nonmember state observer status at the General Assembly.

Iran continues to threaten the existence of Israel and aggressively advances its nuclear capabilities.

Thousands of Israeli children live under the very real
threat of a nuclear or chemical attack by Islamic terrorists.

Iran continues to expand its nuclear program in violation of multiple mandatory UN Security Council resolutions. The number of centrifuges installed at its Fordow enrichment site doubled from May to August and its stockpile of low-enriched uranium could, if further enriched, produce the cores for six nuclear weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) latest report contained new information showing Iran carried out activities related to the development of a nuclear explosive device. Iran has a global terrorist reach and undermines U.S. peace efforts through its support of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hizballah. At the same time, Iran is providing lethal support, including weapons and personnel, to the Assad regime’s brutal campaign of violence in Syria.

Echoing a previous call to “wipe Israel off the map,” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently stated: “Anyone who loves freedom and justice must strive for the annihilation of the Zionist regime in order to pave the way for world justice and freedom.”

Ahmadinejad's definition of freedom and justice is Sharia Law.

The US State Department just issued the following statement: "We strongly condemn the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel, and we regret the death and injury of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians caused by the ensuing violence. There is no justification for the violence that Hamas and other terrorist organizations are employing against the people of Israel. We call on those responsible to stop these cowardly acts immediately. We support Israel’s right to defend itself, and we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties.

Hamas claims to have the best interests of the Palestinian people at heart, yet it continues to engage in violence that is counterproductive to the Palestinian cause. Attacking Israel on a near daily basis does nothing to help Palestinians in Gaza or to move the Palestinian people any closer to achieving self determination."

We thank the US government for its unwavering support. What we, Israel, are asking is for the support and understanding from each and every US citizen.

Israel is not occupying anyone's land. It is Israel and every Western democracy that Islamic Jihad is targeting to occupy.
From New York, London and Washington to Paris, Moscow and Tel Aviv, we have all suffered Islamic terror bombing attacks.

It is vitally important for the US to strongly support Israel’s legitimacy and basic right to defend its citizens. 

Don't allow missiles from Gaza, Syria or Iran to threaten the lives of our children.

......... For the LATEST NEWS FROM ISRAEL - JOIN:
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Fighting Snow Storm - Israel Flying Aid Delivers Fuel to 3 New York Hospitals

Israel Humanitarian Aid distributing generators
to hurricane disaster victims in New York.

By Joel Leyden

Israel News Agency

New York, NY --- November 7, 2012 ... Fighting a raging snow storm with winds up to 60 mph, on the heels of Hurricane Sandy, Israel Humanitarian Aid is rushing to deliver gasoline today to three New York Hospitals. 

Hurricane Sandy created a scene of severe devastation with millions still without electricity, food, water and gas throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

Today Israel Flying Aid will be delivering gasoline to First Responders - doctors and nurses that will use this life saving gas to get to and from hospitals in New York and Long Island.

Nassau County Police Cars with lights flashing are now waiting to escort the Israel Flying Aid fuel convoy to devastated disaster areas on Long Island's south shore.

Israel Flying Aid is requesting that urgent donations be sent to: P.E.F. Israel Endowment Funds Inc., 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 607, New York, NY 10017.

Red Cross Helping Thousands Impacted by Sandy

 

 

Providing Shelter, Food, Water and Relief Supplies

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2012 United States News Agency -- The American Red Cross has a massive response to Superstorm Sandy underway to help people across multiple states.

The Red Cross is providing aid and comfort to thousands and has large relief operations underway in New York and New Jersey, where residents felt Sandy's biggest impact. Shelters and feeding sites are open and emergency vehicles are distributing food, water and relief supplies in these states.

IN NEW YORK:

WHAT: The Red Cross is in communities right now offering assistance with more than 164,000 meals served so far. More than 3,300 disaster works from all over the country are on the East Coast and more help is on the way. WHO:  American Red Cross disaster workers WHEN: Friday, November 02, 2012 WHERE:  Red Cross fixed feeding sites can be found in the following Long Island locations:

Nassau:

Cedar Creek Park	Nickerson Beach Park	Christopher Morley Park
3340 Merrick Road	880 Lido Blvd	500 Searingtown Rd.
Seaford, NY	Lido Beach, NY	Roslyn, NY

Suffolk:

HL Dennison	Riverhead County Center	Mastic Firehouse
100 Veterans Memorial Hwy	210 Center Drive	1080 Mastic Rd
Hauppauge, NY 11718	Riverhead, NY 11901	Mastic, NY 11950

Mobile feeding operations are underway today in the following neighborhoods:

Staten Island (SE):	Queens:	Brooklyn:	Bronx (NE):
Hugenot	Far Rockaway	Red Hook	City Island
Tottenville	Howard Beach	Coney Island
Midland	Hamilton	Brighton Beach
New Dorp	Broad Channel	Sheepshead Bay

Manhattan (SE):	Long Island, Nassau:	Long Island, Suffolk:
Lower East Side	Seaford	Amity Harbor
Chinatown	Long Beach	Oakdale
South Street		Lindenhurst
Wall Street

You can help people affected by disasters like Superstorm Sandy, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/02/4957047/american-red-cross-feeding-thousands.html#storylink=cpy

"As we learn about neighborhoods in need, the Red Cross is immediately putting plans in place to provide people with food, water and relief supplies," said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. "This is a challenging time for everyone who has been affected by the storm and we want everyone to know that we are doing everything possible to get help to them as quickly as possible."

MASSIVE RESPONSE Nearly 6,800 people spent Thursday night in almost 100 Red Cross shelters in New Jersey, New York,Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Thousands more are in their homes without power, water or heat. More than 3,800 Red Cross disaster workers are operating shelters, distributing food and relief supplies in affected communities and providing health services and emotional support.

The Red Cross has:

• Deployed 12 mobile kitchens capable of making 198,000 meals a day and shipped more than 852,000 ready-to-eat meals to the area. Almost 215,000 meals have been served so far.
• Activated more than two-thirds of the entire Red Cross fleet of response vehicles, which are beginning to distribute meals, water, snacks and relief supplies in neighborhoods.
• Mobilized 60 trailers loaded with relief supplies such as personal hygiene items, clean-up kits, rakes, shovels, tarps, dust masks and work gloves
• Deployed specialized workers who have already provided more than 5,000 health services and emotional support contacts to people affected by Sandy.

The Mexican Red Cross is also helping. Ten delegates are supporting American Red Cross health services activities in New York, focusing on providing health care and first aid services and referrals for clients in Red Cross shelters and emergency aid stations. 

HOW TO HELP The Red Cross response to Sandy is very large, and will be very costly. People can make a financial donation in support of Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. They can also use the "donate" feature on the free Red Cross Apps for mobile devices to support this relief response. Contributions may also be sent to someone's local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD More than 360 Red Cross blood drives have been cancelled due to the storm, representing a loss of as many as 12,000 blood and platelet products. People who are eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, are asked to schedule a donation appointment in the days and weeks to come.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them.  Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

LET LOVED ONES KNOW People can let their loved ones know how they are by using the "I'm Safe" button on the Red Cross Hurricane App, or registering on the Red Cross Safe and Well website. The Hurricane App, which also contains safety tips on what people should do after the storm, can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. To register on Safe and Well, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

RED CROSS SHELTERS To find a Red Cross shelter, people can download the Red Cross Hurricane app, visit the Red Cross web site, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or check local media outlets.

About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

http://www.CrisisCommunicationsPr.com

http://www.redcross.org

Frankenstorm Bites New York's Apple

Frankenstorm Bites New York's Apple

By Joel Leyden

New York, NY --- October 30, 2012 ... Within a matter of hours the many vibrant red, yellow and green leaves of a New England Autumn were shredded from their trees in the worst winds and floods to hit the US Northeast. 

We were given more than enough warning. The National Weather Service issued statements more than a week ago that a "Frankenstorm" monster would be formed out of Hurricane Sandy which was slowly moving up the East Coast. That Hurricane Sandy, which had created much havoc in the Caribbean, would integrate with a winter storm moving east across the US and was to be joined by a blast of frigid artic air coming from the north.

New Yorkers and Israelis have much in common. 

We are aggressive, pushy and fear almost nothing. And so it went with the forecast of what was predicted to be the worst storm to slam the US. But as weather forecasts and maps born from computer software became more and more accurate with every passing hour many of us started to take heed.

Having been a victim of last year's October ice storm which crippled the US Northeast with early snow and ice, I began to prepare a checklist as if getting ready for miliuem service in the IDF.

First and foremost, to make sure that all communication would be operative. I reactivated a second mobile phone with Verizon, the only company which got many of us through last year's storms. For Internet I reactivated a "hot spot" mobile Internet router so that once the electricity dropped I could continue harassing my friends on Facebook and Twitter.

From digital to brick and mortars - left my computer screens for long lines at gas stations to fill several red canisters with gas for the electric generator which would feed our lights, refrigerator, oil burner and computers.

After having lived in Israel for over 25 years, getting and being prepared for emergencies becomes second nature.

After all, if we were not prepared, we simply would not survive.

As Hurricane Sandy slowly crept up towards the New York and New Jersey coast, we made sure that our refrigerator and food closets were well stocked. Local news reporters where telling us that most would lose electricity from a few days to a few weeks. Then the governors of Connecticut and New York warned that we would be facing the "most catastrophic storm to ever hit the US". 

How does one respond to that?

Were we talking about high winds of more than 100 miles per hour, rain fall of over 8 inches,  over two feet of snow, sea levels of more than 14 feet above normal and talking to Dorothy and Toto in the midst of swirling tornadoes?

As a journalist, I know how to find fact. To read between the lines. And in this case it became clear that all of the weather forecasters were basing their knowledge on projected weather models that were proving to be very real. But it was where they sincerely stated, just a few times, that they could not fully predict where and how much damage would be inflicted upon us by this massive, historic storm that provoked the most anxiety.

We were told to prepare. No different than getting ready for Katusha rockets and Scud missiles, I taped up all of the windows. Trimmed branches that were hanging over nearby power lines. Purchased the last hand cranked Red Cross weather radio from Radio Shack and made sure that the dog and cats had both food and toys. 

Most important was the emergency food deliveries that I and friends make twice a week to homeless shelters in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut area. On Sunday night we picked up 6 boxes and plastic bags of freshly made bread, bagels and pastry from a Panera store. 

We made our rounds just hours before Frankenstorm started to rain on us. We distributed to police stations, fire departments, the US National Guard (which has been called up for the storm) and two homeless shelters.

With our eyes glued to the TV and I scanning every local news site on the Net, we bunkered down expecting the worst.

High winds began to shake all around us. Winds were howling outside as we drank coffee late into the night and assured our friends that we would be OK. 

Being about 100 miles north from New York and the center of the storm provided very little comfort.

The weather people were telling us that the path of the storm was not relevant. That what was once a hurricane was now a winter storm which would only increase in power over a massive area from Boston to Washington.

If New York had problems, Philadelphia and Baltimore could not provide backup as we were all in this together. Whatever logistical support we did receive came from electric companies which had sent their crews from the US Mid-West.

Watching the hurricane slam New York and Long Island was a heart breaking experience. The devastation that took place there reminded me of covering 9/11 at Ground Zero. One third of Manhattan was and is now without electricity. Lower Manhattan - the financial district is completely flooded with water pouring mercilessly down into the subway stations. 

A construction crane standing high over New York on 57th Street had snapped and was threatening ten nearby buildings. NYU Hospital, whose back up electric generators gave way, was being evacuated with dozens of ambulances racing to and from.

Perhaps my very good friend Gary Vanderwalde who lives out on Long Island summed up the entire experience from his home in a SMS message.

"Joel, sorry, can't call you. No electricity. Saving battery. More than 5 feet of water in my basement. But we survived. We are New Yorkers. We will be OK."

Joel Leyden, a native of New York who lives in Ra'anana, is an international journalist, senior media and social media adviser who consults the IDF and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hartford Jewish Community Attacked - 60 Gravestones Damaged

Hartford, Ct --- October 21, 2012 ... Over 40 gravestones were turned over and vandalized in the Jewish cemetery of Hartford, Ct. The cemetery, which had no security, was attacked over the weekend. 

The Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is now leading the investigation in to the vandalism at the Congregational Israel cemetery, according to Police Chief James C. Rovella in a statement.

The superintendent of the Congregation Israel cemetery located at the corner of Waverly Street and Tower Avenue, reported that gravestones were disturbed “in a vandalism spree that will cost well over ($20,000) to properly repair,” the statement said.

The (cemetery) superintendent learned of the damage from a congregation member who regularly visits his son’s grave, the statement said. “Most of the headstones that were overturned were secured to their bases, requiring extensive repair work. There are no known suspects at this time. One monument was over six feet tall when standing. In two locations a number of gravestones in a row were overturned. Extra patrol attention is being directed for these cemeteries,” the statement said. 

The Israel News Agency was on the scene today where local and national camera crews were searching for people to interview. At this time the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford is getting out their first news release and the ADL says that they are aware of the attack. The ADL thanks the Hartford Police for taking serious effort and time in finding those responsible.

Anyone with information about the incident,” no matter how slight, that may be of assistance to investigators, is asked to contact Hartford Police Major Crimes Division Commander Lieutenant Brian Foley” at             860-757-4463      , or email at foleb001@hartford.gov.

Yom Kippur War - 39 Years On, A Volunteer Remembers

Yom Kippur War - 39 Years On, A Volunteer Remembers 

Israel News Agency ^ | October 3, 2003 | 

By Joel Leyden 

As I write the diary below, the first time retracing steps taken thirty years ago in Israel in October 1973, memories begin to pour back along with the anxiety and tears that we all experienced at the time. For many of us, the scars of war will never heal. Nor should they. - Joel Leyden

Due in part to faulty intelligence and arrogance, Israel was unprepared for a Syrian / Egyptian surprise attack. 

The Yom Kippur War took the lives of 2,688 Israeli troops.

Jerusalem --- October 2003 ... Sitting in the relative safety of a suburban Long Island home, I first heard news reports of Arab armies attacking Israel on October 6, 1973. 

It was not exactly clear what was transpiring in the Middle-East. News reports were censored and the media was not overly kind to Israel. I heard my father say that Israel's UN Ambassador Abba Eban was to address the United Nations General Assembly. I did not know of Abba Eban, I was expecting an Israeli to speak with a thick Israeli accent that most would not understand.

We had just extended our tree lined, middle-upper class home in Westbury. Our living room was now twice the size, with white marble floors, a bear rug, antique chandeliers and the latest TV and radio players. I sat down on one of the soft couches with my father to watch Abba Eban address the world on a color television set. 

I watched as this portly man in a neat two piece suit wearing large black glasses walked down an aisle at the UN and took his place at the podium. He spoke clearly with an English accent. A voice which embraced all of the desperate passion of the moment. His English accent was a surprise. To an American, we are seduced by this English UK mother tongue twisting of vowels and nouns. It says to the American ear that the speaker is authoritative.

Weighing each and every word that Eban smoothly articulated, I awaited the latest news of what the Israelis were facing. Then I heard a defining sentence. "This was a brutal and unprovoked attack in great mass by Egypt and Syria across the cease-fire lines," said Eban. Israelis don't speak like this. They never admit weakness. To use the word "brutal" meant that Israel was bleeding. 

At that point I knew that Israel's very survival was in jeopardy. I said to my father that I was going to go to Israel to help out. He shrugged with disbelief. He must have asked himself where would a 20-year-old find the money and an aircraft which would fly a young boy into a war zone? 

My father was a Jewish activist, he was and remains a Zionist. He served as the Chairman of the Transportation fund raising division of the United Jewish Appeal, was the president of his Temple and was a consultant to Israel's Ministry of Defense in New York.

I had been in Israel only the year before as a Kibbutz volunteer. It was the most romantic summer of my life. To wake up at sunrise, to be driven by tractor into the lush green banana fields and then to sit down for a breakfast of fresh scrambled eggs with halva was paradise. It was Ma'ayan Baruch, a kibbutz located directly on the Israeli-Lebanese border which was founded before the War of Independence by South Africans and Americans. 

I also had family in Tel Aviv, warm people who greeted me as if I was one of their sons. Israel was all that I expected it to be. A romantic, exotic and pioneering state where all of the people pulled together. The collective warmth was infectious. As I left my many months on kibbutz, I promised that one day I would return to this Jewish state and make it my home.

As Eban walked off the UN podium and the news anchors began to deliver commentary, I walked into my bedroom, closed my door and called Kibbutz Aliya Desk - a center for volunteers to Israel located in New York City. I asked if I could immediately volunteer for a kibbutz in Israel. I expected a negative response. Who had time for some kid from New York who wanted to pick apples at a time of war?

"If you come to Israel to assist us and promise us that you are not coming to fight, then we may have room for you on a flight in the next few days." 

I had to pay a very small fee as the flight was subsidized. I went into New York City the following day for an interview. They accepted me and I was to leave from JFK airport to Israel on October 11.

My parents were in disbelief. I remember how my father was proud of my actions, as my mother cried and begged him not to let me go. But as a young man, I had decided my course and now had the means to implement it. I arrived at the El Al terminal with my parents and was rushed by security up to the El Al VIP lounge. 

Now it sunk in. Here I was with a few hundred other people going off to war. 

We knew our lives were expendable as soon as we would step on board the aircraft. Tears flowed in that terminal. It was a quiet, surreal scene, where I held back my own tears as not wanting to make the situation more tense. I kissed my mother on the cheek, smiled and said I would call her upon arrival. "Don't worry," I said. "I am going to pick apples, I will not be shooting anyone." I stepped on board the aircraft, now somewhat afraid of what was in front of me but overshadowing this fear was the knowledge, the adage: "If not me, then who?"

There was no conversation on the plane. It was not as if you were traveling to Jamaica on vacation. There was no laughter, only quiet reflection. Many of us thought to ourselves, would we actually make it to Israel or be shot down in flight?

I sat next to a medical doctor who had volunteered as well. He assured me that all would be okay. He said that his specialty was trauma and that he was now assigned to an army hospital in Israel. I was in good company. These were people of action. This was the Jewish nation standing up and being counted when it was most needed.

As we approached Israel, the pilot made an unusual announcement. He wanted us to close our window shades. I guess the pilot, as many El Al pilots who had served as Israeli combat pilots previous to taking these commercial positions, knew a bit more than we did. Having a "lit candle" of civilian passengers flying into a war zone was not the best tactic that one would suggest.

As I looked outside one final time, I saw a combat fighter flying off our left wing just yards away. Then I heard the pilot make another announcement. 

"Don't worry - the combat jet which is flying next to us is one of ours."

Now the reality of war was all around us. There was no turning back. If I lived through this - so would Israel, if I died then I would have given my life no different than those who had fought the Nazis.

As the plane's wheels touched Israeli soil, we applauded. We were not applauding the pilot and listening to tunes of Hava Nagila - we were applauding the fact that we were alive. That we had made it past the first hurdle and that we were only minutes away from physically joining our brothers and sisters in their defense for Israel's very existence.

The terminal was empty and dark. 

All of Tel Aviv was blacked out. Window shades were drawn on all of the homes and buildings we past. Even the headlights of cars and buses were painted blue. We were a group of about 40 people. I later found out that we were a few hundred foreign volunteers accepted from thousands who had applied. We were the "official Israeli war volunteers" and we were greeted in the kindest manner. But we never forgot for a second that we were not on the front line -that there were others who were in far more danger than us and those Israelis who were assisting us in Tel Aviv were related to brothers, husbands and sons now in uniform.

The Yom Kippur War lasted for 3 weeks, starting on October 6, 1973 and ended on October 22 on the Syrian front and on October 26 on the Egyptian front.

It was evening. 

We were taken by bus to a large youth hostel in Tel Aviv by the Hayarkon River. Holding luggage and wearing backpacks we mingled quietly outside on the grass next to the buildings. Then someone started to read our names out. As they went through the list, we were instructed to enter one of the buildings. 

As I walked in, I saw several dining tables all with candles burning. This was not Shabbat. 

We were in a blackout. 

The mood was eerie. Little conversation, no laughter and much reflection. A bearded man in his thirties stood up and made a prayer. He then spoke in English and thanked us for coming to Israel. He said that we would face very difficult days ahead, but with god's help, that we and all of Israel would be fine. We began to drink hot matza ball soup. You could not escape the tension and anxiety. This was not the smiling Israel I had known from a year ago, neither was this Long Island. We were together, but yet alone as we sat and ate our first meal in the Yom Kippur War.

After finishing our dinner of chicken and mashed potatoes, we again mingled outside on the grass. We were taken to our rooms by flashlight.

We awoke early in the morning and after a brief breakfast, again heard our names called out. We were taken to buses which would take us to Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station. It was a busy scene of soldiers coming and going. Then I spotted a long line of dark green ambulances with the white and red Magan David stars on their sides. These were military ambulances. 

With curiosity, I slowly walked over to one of the vehicles. I discovered that it was an emergency mobile blood donation station. 

I looked at the soldier in charge and gestured that I too wanted to donate blood. He wrote my name down and I stood in line. Next to me was another young war volunteer from France. He spoke no English and I knew no French. We just smiled at one another. We were both asked to enter the ambulance at the same time. There were two cots on either side of the ambulance. We rolled up our sleeves and as our blood began to drip into plastic bags, we again smiled at one another, tears began to form, we did not need words.

As we both stepped off the IDF ambulance, we shook hands. I said good luck in English and he said the same in French. We now looked for our buses which were to be identified by number. Buses which were to take us somewhere in Israel, it was anyone's guess. 

After a few hours I found myself on the Israeli-Jordanian border.

It was a quiet journey. The dusty roads were vacant except for an occasional IDF truck, jeep or tank quickly rolling by.

About five of us stepped off the bus at Kibbutz Beit Zera. Located in the Jordan Valley about 15 minutes south of Tiberius, Beit Zera was another Ma'ayan Baruch, another magical, romantic kibbutz with palm trees, apple orchards and haystacks. We walked past the main gate and were greeted by the head of the volunteers. 

A one-armed Israeli kibbutznik in his late twenties. His warmth was evident from first eye contact. A warmth which remained consistent throughout the ugly, dark days ahead. He led us across a large, open grassy field to a group of wooden huts. This was to be home for the next several weeks. All seemed tranquil, as this is the normal environment for a kibbutz. 

But the tranquility lasted less than 24 hours.

At first it was the super sonic booms of low flying IDF aircraft intercepting Syrian fighters. We would run out of our shacks after being rattled by these heavy thuds, thinking that the kibbutz was being bombed. We would stand out in the open field, point our binoculars towards the sky and watch dogfights taking place above us. 

We could make out the Israeli planes from the Syrian MIGs. It was always the Syrian MIG which would be seen exploding or going down in a trail of grey smoke. We would yell in exhilaration for our brave brothers in the sky, we would laugh and walk proudly back to our work or beds. 

But this Hollywood show where the good guy would always win, would not last for long. 

Another dogfight, more missiles, but this time through the binoculars you could clearly see the Magan David Star painted on the tail or was it a wing, drop from the sky. We fell silent. We cried. 

We walked back to our beds for a sleepless night.

After two days on the kibbutz I sensed something was wrong. There were almost no men on the kibbutz. They were all in the reserves. Our job was to keep the kibbutz functioning. Whether it was in the factory, the cotton fields or in the kitchen we did our best to keep morale high. On the third day, I walked over to the volunteers' bulletin board and my mouth opened. 

On a piece of yellow ruled paper tacked onto the cork was a sign stating: Premilitary Training for Volunteers. 

One of the conditions for which many of us were not pleased to accept was that we were not going to Israel to fight.

Now they were offering us weapons training. 

Within 24 hours we were taught how to fire World War 2 carbines, instructed where we could find mortars and grenades and the positions around the kibbutz that we should take up if the kibbutz was attacked. There was no more magic or romanticism associated with this kibbutz. The war was not going well and we felt it.

I spent one day working at the kibbutz pool and became friendly with the man who managed it. I didn't see him for a few days and then I spotted him in the kibbutz dining room. He was sitting at a table by himself. With a big smile I walked over to him and asked him how he was. He responded: "my son is dead." I had no words. I was in shock. We were all in shock.

As the war worsened for Israel, one afternoon all of the volunteers were called into a meeting set for 5:00 p.m. Having been on a kibbutz, I thought nothing of this meeting except for some kibbutz beaucracy about to take place or the kibbutz secretary was now, finally going to introduce himself. I was right, it was the kibbutz secretary, but it was not about beaucracy or introductions. 

Without wasting anytime he said these words: "The situation has become very bad. We will be lucky to see the sun set this evening…..even luckier to see the sun rise tomorrow morning. I thank you from my heart for being here … for helping us…now I wish all of you and us good luck."

You could hear the proverbial pin drop on the floor. 

What was actually happening in the south that for which we were completely unaware of was that Israeli troops had successfully crossed the Suez Canal. They were now marching towards Cairo and Moscow had just told the US that if the Israelis did not immediately leave Egyptian soil, that they would deploy paratroopers within 24 hours against the Israelis. We were facing World War Three. 

The kibbutz secretary, having been briefed by IDF home front command intelligence, expected the Jordanians to enter the war and over run the kibbutz.

We walked slowly back to our shacks. Not a word was muttered. We were just told that we were living our last hours. 

All we could do was look at one another. We began talking about our families in the States, in the UK and Australia. All of our radios were on. We tried to maintain contact with the kibbutz secretary, but to no avail. We were alone. When we stepped on board that El Al aircraft we knew very well that this scenario could take place. But none of us ever imagined that this could or would happen. We were not prepared. 

How does one prepare to die?

It was the longest night of my life. As the sun's first rays began to peak over the Jordanian mountains, over the Golan Heights which were nestled at our very door, I remember hearing the sounds of birds singing. The sound of factory machinery drilling and cutting metal and wood. The sun rose and we were alive. 

I put on a pair of running shoes, as I did often to start my day and set out with a run to the kibbutz entrance and then around the kibbutz. As I approached the entrance of the kibbutz I saw a mass of people. I slowed to a walk. Then as I got nearer I saw that they were carrying an Israeli flag draped coffin into the kibbutz. I stared and cried. I turned around and again retreated to my kibbutz shack. I took off my shoes and just lay in bed.

By this point a very deep cloud of depression hung over the kibbutz. We volunteers, whose job it was to keep the kibbutz functioning and keep morale high could no longer manage a smile.

Finally, I suggested to my roommate Jeffery, a schoolteacher from London, to hitchhike into Tiberius. We needed to get out of this environment. Without hesitation, we grabbed our shoes and some money and made our way to the kibbutz entrance. An army truck stopped and we got into the back. It was a bumpy ride but it was heaven just to leave Beit Zeir. Tiberius was wall to wall soldiers. Some preparing to go the Syrian front, others with mud stained shirts enjoying some Rest and Relaxation in the many pubs.

As Jeffery and I walked into one of the pubs, we realized that we were the only civilians there. We ordered some beer. Many of the soldiers stared at us. In retrospect, they were most likely thinking to themselves why we were not in uniform. 

One soldier walked over to us and said something in Hebrew. I responded by asking him if he spoke English. The tension immediately turned to laughter. 

"You are the volunteers, you are the volunteers who have come from the States and England - yes?" We smiled. I was not quite sure if "we" were the volunteers he was speaking about. "You are the heroes who left your homes to help us. What do you want to eat? What do you want to drink? You pay for nothing," he said.

Another soldier walked over to us and took out a plastic bag of green peppers. "I picked these peppers just outside of Damascus - I want you to have some," the soldier smiled. This was an ambush. 

A friendly ambush for as we placed the peppers in our mouths our throats began to burn and eyes began to tear. These battle weary soldiers were having a joke on us and we could not be happier. 

This is why we had come to Israel. We were finally home. And we were alive.

- 30 -

Within two days, the IDF, now fully deployed, blocked the Egyptian and Syrian advances and took the offensive in the Yom Kippur War.