MY LIFE IN ISRAEL: 3 NOVEMBER 2023

We have been in Israel almost a month, having arrived on October 9^th, 2023, two days after the massacre and hostage grab of October 7^th.

In that time, we have moved into our family accommodation at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (above is the view from our bedroom window at night), and I have begun classes, studying for a Masters in Jewish Studies.

HEBREW

Everything is online, including the compulsory modern Hebrew that constitutes twelve hours of screen time a week, plus homework. I have been surprised by the number of 18-year-old Arab girls in my level Bet (improvers) class. They are schoolkids who will need Hebrew if they are to study to secure interesting work in Israel.

What has surprised me most is that these girls, all from Jerusalem, have gotten this far without knowing the country’s first language. It is indicative of the insular life they lead and points to an education system for Arab children that skips Hebrew.

They all seem to have good English. When we go into breakout rooms in twos and threes, they are mostly stronger at reading and more fluent in Hebrew than I am. If I wonder about a word, they are usually able to give me the English for it.

Other students are stuck in USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, Finland… which is also the case for my academic courses.

OTHER STUDIES

One thing I was keen to study was Biblical Hebrew, but I have had to abandon it, at least for this year. By scratching this subject, I saved 3.5 hours of screen time every week, reducing my total to 18 hours, plus homework, which is still an exhausting amount. Hopefully, we will eventually get back to in-person studies. It will take extra time to move between classes, but at least I’ll get out and about.

THINGS OPENING

Things are gradually opening here, despite the war. Yesterday, we were able to buy a printer at the University bookshop, which has been shut until recently. On the way back, we saw a coffee shop that had been invisible to us before. It had newly reopened, with umbrellas outside. It was pure joy to sip a cappuccino among the trees and birds.

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

Just this morning, during the studies Butch and I do together after breakfast, we were reading in Mark’s gospel about Jesus’ death. “To think we are right here, where that happened, just down there.” Butch pointed across the Mount of Olives that is right next to the campus.

It does feel special to be here.

Our takeaway was the bold statement of the Roman centurion. “Surely, this man was the son of God.” How his words contrasted with the mocking crowd, taunting Jesus to call down Elijah to help him as he agonized and died.

We prayed that we should be equally bold here. Butch is. It’s not always easy for me, however. Jews who believe in Jesus have crossed a line: they are seen as traitors.

That said, there seems to be more tolerance and kindness than when we lived here before, 12 years ago. The War partly underpins this, but not solely. Israelis are becoming more liberal.

I have a new piece on the UK’s Association of Christian Writers’ award-winning More Than Writers Blog: JERUSALEM AND ME, that talks about why we feel we are within God’s will to be here, despite the country being at war.

And you will find posts, updates, lives, news and videos on my Facebook pro page https://www.facebook.com/BobbieAnnCole/.

GIGI

I am including a picture of my daughter and her lovely daughter, Gigi Yaeli, a much-desired, first child, following IVF. She was born on October 10, three days after Hamas terrorists murdered, beheaded and burned babies, ripping them from the stomachs of pregnant women.

The news of my new granddaughter’s birth (albeit in England) felt like one – just one – Jewish baby, sent in their stead.

There are many who are saying that what the Israel Defence Force is doing in Gaza is too violent. Yes, it is awful that innocent Gazans are being killed as Hamas uses them as human shields.

It is important to understand that what is going on here is not tit-for-tat retaliation.

What happened on October 7 must never be able to happen again. Hamas must be disempowered. This war is for Israel’s very existence.

Um Yisrael Chai.

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