"Our resilience lies in community and home"

Dr. Hemdat Salay, MWF member, reflects on life in northern Israel during wartime.

"As I was finalizing this short piece, a ceasefire was announced between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This ceasefire, hopefully, provides relief for millions of Israelis in central Israel who have been under daily (and nightly) missile attacks.

For us, the residents of the Galilee on Israel’s Northern border, this ceasefire may or may not apply. As the situation on the front against Hezbollah has not yet been determined, we are uncretain whether schools can resume, and when the roads will be safe to travel on. As I write these lines, I hear sirens and explosions from a neighboring kibbutz… The war enters every living room and every cell of the body.

Since the war broke out on Oct. 7th, 2023, we have developed routines within a very unstable and restricted reality. With no prior alerts and less than 15 seconds to find shelter (most of the time, the rockets' explosions are heard before the siren), every basic daily task, like going to the doctor or grocery shopping, must be carefully considered.

Some days are quiet; others are hectic. This rhythm has become familiar, and people cope with it through habituation and resilience. The mind then operates along two parallel tracks: suppressing the daily danger in order to function, while worrying about the future of this area.

For many in the Upper Galilee, Operation “Epic Furry” is met with deep frustration, as all rehabilitation efforts have been prolonged. After almost two years of evacuation or living in a war zone, like my community, we have begun repairing and rebuilding our homes – both personal and regional. We are struggling to reopen businesses, address significant educational gaps and emotional impacts on children, strengthen our organizational systems, and re-stitch our torn communities.

Community - maybe this is the secret to our adaptability. Arvut has become a central element in local communal life and an integral part of the local leadership system. Leading the Community Building Initiative in the Upper-Galilee Regional Council, I am witnessing the strength and creativity of our communities – both leadership and members – who are using their passions and skills to support continuity and cohesion.

As I asked people around me what message should be shared with global Jewish communities, two strong themes were repeated - togetherness… and home. We are home, in one of the most beautiful regions in Israel. Spring is bursting with vivid colors of green, purple, yellow, and pink, defying the realities of war. The wonderful smell of citrus trees overcomes the sound of sirens and rockets".

Dr. Hemdat Salay (PhD) is a mother of two and a member of Maccabi’s Women’s Forum, living in Kibbutz Kfar Szold in northern Israel. She leads a community-building initiative at the Upper Galilee Regional Council and speaks to international audiences, including the Conference of Major Jewish Organizations and Jewish communities worldwide.