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Israeli Teens Prepare to Return to School
Bummed Out and Bombed Out, or How I Spent My Summer Vacation
by Israel HighWay staff

This was not a normal summer, by any means. Instead of hiking in Israel's nature preserves, or attending camp, or baking on the beach, many Israeli teens were preoccupied with Israel's war with Hizballah.

Thousands of teens in the north were hunkered down in shelters or relocated to relatives' homes in the south. Their favorite hangouts were off-limits. The beaches from Haifa to Nahariya were targets for Katyusha rockets. Some of the treasured forests and nature preserves in the north were turned into charcoal by Hizballah's rockets.

What's a kid to do?

Issue of the Week is continued below

Bush: "Make Sure Hizballah Doesn't Rearm"

President Bush said Monday: "You have people launch attacks on a sovereign nation without the consent of the government in the country in which they are lodged. And that's why it's very important for all of us, those of us who are involved in this process, to get an international force into Lebanon to help the Lebanese government achieve some objectives. One is their ability to exert control over the entire country; secondly is to make sure that the Hizballah forces don't rearm, don't get arms from Syria or Iran through Syria, to be able to continue to wreak havoc in the region."

"There will be another resolution coming out of the United Nations giving further instructions to the international force. First things first; is to get the rules of engagement clear, so that the force will be robust to help the Lebanese. One thing is for certain - is that when this force goes in to help Lebanon, Hizballah won't have that safe haven, or that kind of freedom to run in Lebanon's southern border....The Lebanese government is eventually going to have to deal with Hizballah." (White House)

IDF: Hizballah Hostilities Liable to Restart Soon by Amos Harel

Senior IDF officers say that "round two" between Israel and Hizballah could begin within months or even weeks, probably over the renewal of arms deliveries from Iran and Syria. One senior officer noted that while UN Security Council Resolution 1701 calls for an embargo on arms shipments to Hizballah, no mechanism has been put in place to enforce this embargo, and said that Israel will have to intervene if the deliveries continue unchecked. Specifically, the military source said, Israel will be forced to carry out aerial assaults on trucks traveling from Syria to Lebanon. "If we know that a truck is carrying arms, we'll strike," he said. "There is simply no alternative." (Ha'aretz)

Israeli Teens Get a Break in Florida by Jennifer Cohen

This should have been their summer vacation. Instead, they spent their days inside, in a safe room or bomb shelter. But for a week, 15 teens from Nesher, Israel, ate pizza, went ice skating and had a barbecue, savoring a much-needed respite in Florida from the battles raging in their homeland. "The families here made me feel so welcomed and have been so generous. I am very comfortable here and do not want to go home," said Dani Goral, 15. "When I was home, I had to stay in my house all day long. We would hear the sirens and would have to go to the safe room made of concrete. We heard the missiles explode, and it was very scary." (Miami Herald)

Jewish Youth Arrive to Enlist in IDF by Ines Ehrlich

Three weeks into the second Lebanese war with rockets raining down on the north of the country, 130 Jewish youngsters landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Their sole purpose was to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces.

Eighteen-year-old Netta Sadeh, daughter of Israeli parents who left Israel when she was 15 to live in Toronto, always knew that she would return to Israel to do her military service. At first she considered coming here alone, but now she is thankful that she joined the Garin where she has met many friends in the same situation as her own. The weeks that preceded her arrival were spent glued to CNN as she struggled with her decision to come here during wartime. "Every news broadcast made me change my mind, but I am really glad I decided to come." She says. (Ynet News)

Jewish Students Raise Funds to Aid Israelis and Lebanese
by Ezra HaLevi

A group of young people from Jerusalem and the Judean Hills have organized a concert to provide aid to residents of both northern Israel and southern Lebanon. They hope to beat Hizballah to it.

"Even though we each have different opinions on the war and the Middle East, we are joined together in the conviction that concern for human beings should transcend politics," said Dan Sieradski. Sieradski, though driven by concern for the suffering of those on both sides of the border, believes providing relief to Lebanese civilians is critical. "With Hizballah's dominance of relief efforts in Lebanon, we will not stand idly by while the Lebanese become further indebted to Hizballah," Sieradski said. (Israel National News)

714 Artists Appeared Voluntarily During War by Meirav Yudilovich

Omanut Laam, who coordinated the artists' performance in the north of the country in an effort to lift the IDF's and the public's morale, included 714 artists who appeared voluntarily in more than 216 locations. Omanut Laam says the response to their requests was without precedence and volunteers included film and theater actors, comedians, authors, poets, dancers, magicians and singers who appeared in front of an audience comprising some 180,000 people. (pictured: David Broza) (Ynet News)

The Name of the Rose: Israel by Jane Lerner

Even as the rockets fell in Israel this summer, flowers in Israel continued to grow - flowers that are being delivered to the homes of people in the Lower Hudson Valley in increasing numbers. "It's a great way to show our support for Israel," said Cathy Klein of Suffern. "And besides, they really are beautiful roses." She is about to place an order with a farmer in southern Israel for 40 dozen roses. The flowers will be sold Sept. 17 at her synagogue, Temple Beth El in Spring Valley, by members of the youth group. Money raised through the sale of the roses will be donated to a charity that makes care packages for Israeli solders, said Klein's 17-year-old daughter, Emma, president of the synagogue's youth group. "It's good for Israel's economy," said the Suffern High School senior. (Journal News)

Cincinnati High School Students Study Judaism in Israel, Poland
by Mary Dannemiller

As the students stepped out of the airport and into the dry Israeli heat, war was the farthest thing from their minds. Learning about their faith, visiting historical sites and meeting Israeli teens in Cincinnati's sister city, Netanya, were subjects that dominated the thoughts of most. For two weeks, that's what they did. "Visiting the Wailing Wall was the best part. It was just amazing to see people revere such a plain object, it's just a wall. It was amazing being in its presence," Aaron Betts said. The trip was organized by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and funded by the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati. (Community Press)

Lexington Teen Stuck It Out at Camp in Israel as War Began
by Frank Lockwood

Asher Finkel of Lexington traveled to Israel to attend summer camp, not to dodge Soviet-made Katyushas. But the Lexington youth found himself in a war zone in July when fighting erupted between Israel and Hizballah guerrillas. Asher, said the trip was a positive experience. "I came back from Israel definitely with a stronger connection. ... I have a stronger kinship with the country," he said. "My ultimate wish and, I think, everyone's ultimate wish, is that there'd be peace in the area, but it doesn't look like it's happening any time soon." (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Amid the Chaos - Baseball by Howard Hermann

From college age to middle age, about 60 men gathered at the Dan Duquette Sports Academy yesterday, hoping to live out their baseball dreams and their chance to be part of something historic. They were the first prospective players in the planned Israel Baseball League, which is scheduled to begin play next year.

"I play all the time. It's exciting to be part of something that combines two things that are so important to you - Israel and baseball," said Dan Rootenberg of New York City, "which is pretty rare." The players were hoping to get noticed in order to be part of the inaugural IBL season, which organizers say they hope will have a first pitch on June 22, 2007. (Berkshire Eagle)

Israel Tour - Mixed Feelings from the Confrontation Line
by Sappir Suissa

The war started on Wednesday, 12.7.06 - the day before we were supposed to join the Hanoar Hatzioni Israel Tour bus early on Thursday 13.7.06. Some of the planned tour activity included a three day visit to the "Confrontation Line," where we live. When we heard that this visit was cancelled, I was very disappointed because I had hoped to go home and really wanted to host them at my house. Everything was planned. I wanted to take them to Nahariya, to swim in our pool, to have a party at Monfort Lake with all our friends. I hoped to wake up at home with two British visitors at my house. I had waited for it for such a long time and was very disappointed when everything was cancelled. Sometimes I really forget that in the north of Israel there is a war going on, but the moment I hear a radio, the truth comes back to me. (Jewish Agency)

No Calm after the Storm by Mortimer B. Zuckerman

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the boss of Hizballah (and Iran's puppet), has already said he won't disarm. To no one's surprise, the Lebanese defense minister vows not to order his army to confiscate Hizballah's rockets, mainly because his army couldn't defeat the New York City Police Department.

How should civilized countries deal with terrorists who hide among women and children? A country under attack must defend its citizens. Period. How can the civilized world establish and enforce the principle that civilians are never to be used as human shields? We must have a process for irrefutable international condemnation of terrorists who employ such measures. (New York Daily News)

A Moment to Be Seized in Lebanon by Charles Krauthammer

Hizballah has declared that it will not disarm. Everything remains in place awaiting the order to restart the war when the time is right. With the psychological success of the war with Israel, Hizballah may soon become the dominant force in all of Lebanon. In the south, the Lebanese army will be taking orders from Hizballah.

That is why ensuring that Hizballah is cut down to size by a robust international force with very strict enforcement of its disarmament is so critical. For all its boasts, Hizballah has suffered grievously militarily, with enormous losses of fighters, materiel, and infrastructure. Now is its moment of maximum weakness. That moment will not last long. Resupply and rebuilding have already begun.

If we are not working frantically behind the scenes to make sure that the UN gets real troops in quickly, armed with the right equipment and the right mandate, the moment will be lost. And with it Lebanon. (Washington Post)

The sense of emergency for Israel's teens was amplified when their fathers, older siblings or friends received emergency mobilization orders from the Israel Defense Forces.

Many of Israel's youth responded by volunteering to take care of children evacuated from the besieged north. Youth movements sent hundreds of counselors to run 26 camps for more than 20,000 relocated children. Other teens helped social services in the northern towns by visiting families in the shelters, bringing them essential supplies, and playing with the children to give harried parents a break.

See You in September

September 1 is always the first day of school in Israel (unless, of course, it falls on Saturday). But this year, schools across the county will open two days later. In some northern towns repairs on schools are still being carried out. Israel's Ministry of Education also considered the need for students to have another weekend of fun after a month of uncertainty and fear.

In Kiryat Shmona, it's uncertain when several schools will open. The town was clobbered by as many as 1,000 rockets, damaging 2,000 homes, seven schools, and seven nursery schools.

Karmiel was hit by over 200 rockets that damaged some 800 homes, as well as schools and public buildings. The ORT Braude College, located in Karmiel, was hit by two rockets that caused damages estimated at over $100,000. Cities and towns across Israel's north report similar damage.

Dealing with Trauma, the Other Damage

Israel and its supporters around the world are focusing their attention on repairing the physical damage to Israel's north. But after years of terrorism, Israel realizes that it must also deal with the psychological and emotional damage brought on by war and terrorism - the trauma.

Kiryat Shmona psychologist Alan Cohen reports that in his town "the psychology business is booming. Hopefully," he added, "the funding will follow - who has money here to pay for trauma treatment?"

A special recovery budget includes money for psychological counseling of children suffering symptoms of stress from the 34 days of fighting, the New York Times reported. Some children spent much of that time in crowded bomb shelters.

About 35 percent of Israeli children who remained in the north during the war with Hizballah are suffering from anxiety, nightmares and other problems, according to a recent survey. The 16,000 children were found to have difficulty concentrating and are crying more often, according to the Tel Chai Academic College survey.

For the teens and children of Israel, the summer of 2006 will never be forgotten. It was a time of fear, wandering, and, for many, grief over the loss of loved ones or their homes. The unselfish response by Israel's own teens and by friends of Israel around the world have been an effective and loving countermeasure to the rockets and hate rained down on Israel this summer. With schools reopening in North America, it is time for students to rededicate themselves to helping their cousins in Israel return to their normal lives.

Click here for ways you can help out, whether through your school's Israel Action Club, your NCSY/USY/NFTY or BBYO Israel Committee, or even on your own.

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