Normalcy

I just want to quickly touch base with all of our blog friends. First, thank you to everyone who has emailed us to check on our physical and mental health and safety. It was greatly appreciated and very moving to know that we are in so many people's thoughts and prayers. Rachel and I both went to bed feeling sad and unsettled Thursday night. It was shocking that the shooting happened here in Jerusalem, in our little safe space, and it was saddening to think that the next day, 8 children would be buried decades before their time amongst the sobs and cries of family, friends and anonymous faces writhing in pain. And knowing that just a few hours later, as it does every week, the siren would sound letting all of Jerusalem know that Shabbat had begun, and the air would fill with the hums of prayer and song as the religious, and secular, masses would begin to grapple with the difficult question of why. I went out Friday afternoon to meet someone and was somewhat surprised by how normal it felt. It was a few hours before Shabbat, and people were bustling around the city as they always do. It felt good. Rachel and I had a wonderful Shabbat with her parents and the friends who hosted us for dinner and lunch. The shooting was barely mentioned by anyone. Of course, everyone was sad and angry about what happened, but we are in Jerusalem, Israel, and this is life here. Indeed, the show must go on. Each day is a new day here, and a week is truly a long time. Tonight we walked around Ben Yehuda and the City Center once Shabbat ended, and there were throngs of people out like always, probably more, though, than the last few months because we got a little taste of summer these last days and it is in the 80s right now. There were religious families, secular families, kids of all varieties, tour groups, Birthright groups, street performers, etc. It was refreshing and invigorating to see so many people out and about who are not going to sit at home afraid of what could happen. It felt like home. And who can complain about that. It is indeed the start to a very good week. Shavua tov.

We Are Okay...

...but sadly others aren't.

As the news has probably already broken in America, we want to let everyone know that we, and as far as we know, our friends and loved ones in Jerusalem, are okay. There was a shooting at a boys yeshiva in a religious neighborhood in Jerusalem. So far reports are that anywhere from 7-9 are dead and 30-something are injured. It is unclear if the terrorist gunmen are dead or alive or if they are captured or at large. There are many conflicting stories on the various news sources. We won't know exact details until tomorrow, at the earliest I imagine. We definitely feel shaken up and incredibly sad by what happened, and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering and our hopes remain that peace will prevail and that, like our blog theme says, there will be shalom in and from Jerusalem. We will be in touch again soon. Be well.