Editorial: Safe where we belong

Issue of August 1, 2008

It was on a quick trip home to New York from a yeshiva in Israel that a post-high school student noticed something odd: he felt reluctant, scared even, about descending underground into the New York City subway system.

Since this was in 1987, when Manhattan under Ed Koch too often teetered on the edge of anarchy, this might not have seemed so unusual –– unless you took into account where that born-and-raised New Yorker was coming from.

In Israel, after all, the first Intifada was at its chaotic height. Being stabbed in the back by a 'brave freedom fighter' was a real concern every time one walked down the street.

Even so, that student –– this writer –– realized that Israel, with or without the Intifada, felt demonstrably safer than New York City.

Manhattan has changed a lot in 21 years, of course, as has Israel. But some things don't seem to change. While the threat du jour in Jerusalem is now death or maiming by bulldozer, on a too-short trip to Israel last week, that safe feeling held true.

Even so, when an apparent threat did arise, there was a singularly Israeli experience waiting to be had.

A tour of the Magen David Adom dispatch center in Jerusalem was interrupted by what appeared to be a major incident. A supervisor cleared the room of visitors as Israel's national emergency medical service quickly geared up to respond to what appeared at that moment to be a mass casualty incident –– a true emergency.

There were even more people around than usual, we were told, since the call had come in during a shift change. Crews coming off shift quickly picked up the keys to spare ambulances and prepared to pull out once again.

Watching the response from an out-of-the-way spot outside the building, it wasn't hard to imagine that a terrorist, somewhere, had gotten through security. Just two days earlier, after all, a copycat with a bulldozer had rampaged in Jerusalem, mimicking an earlier attack.

In the end, thank G-d, we learned that there had not been a terrorist attack. The responders were cancelled; the ambulances brought back, as it became apparent that a reported truck accident wasn't really all that serious, after all.

Still, during those minutes of uncertainty, as our host worked his cell phone seeking information, our fingers were itching, it seemed, with an almost uncontrollable urge to call loved ones elsewhere in Jerusalem at that time, just to make sure they were alright.

It was a good lesson, that fleeting feeling of scared uncertainty. Because as safe as Israel is, and feels to the enthusiastic visitor, we still know that uncertainties abound there, and that sometimes there is a price to be paid for living, or just being, there.

And yet, those lucky enough to live in Israel –– everyone, but especially those who are there by choice –– seem enviably certain that they are right where they belong.