On Thursday I received a call from Ilan. I hadn’t heard from him all week. That is not unusual – when he is in training he often doesn’t call until Thursday or Friday. His voice was strong, sure and yet I could tell that he was trying to be measured in his speech. Adrenaline was making his breath shallow.
“Hi Mom.”
“Hey Ilan how are you?”
“I’m fine. Can you call me back on this phone?”
“Where is your phone?”
“I left it on the base.”
“Oh. Where are you?”
“A kibbutz.”
“Awesome. Are you out for the weekend? “
“No.” Pause. “No. Just call me back.”
“Ok.” I can’t dial fast enough. “Hey what’s going on?”
“I’m on a kibbutz.”
“Where?”
“In the south.”
“A kibbutz in the south? Why?”
“I just wanted you to know I was OK. I can’t really talk.” Silence. “Did you see the news?”
“No.” I turn on CNN. Nothing. I go to the internet and log on to ynetnews.com. Anti-tank missile from Gaza hit a school bus. 16 year old mortally wounded in his head.
I slowly connect the dots. His phone is on the base because he was told by his commanders not to bring it with him. He wasn’t on a kibbutz but a base. His shortened breath anticipated what was next. The strength in his voice anticipated what was next. And I was not going to get any information from him on the phone.
“So,” I repeat, “You on are on kibbutz in the south. You can’t really talk. You won’t be able to answer my questions.”
“That’s right,” he said. “I really need to hang up. I want to call Dad before we go.”
“Ok.” I notice my heartbeat. I am pacing back and forth, but my voice is strong and we speak quickly:
Be safe Ilan - You have been trained well- Just do what you know how to do - I’m proud of you - I love you - I love you too - Ok bye - I love you - I love you too - Ok call when you can - I love you - I love you too - Ok Bye - Ok Bye.
Within minutes, this call probably repeated itself hundreds of times. Sons called moms and dads to tell them not to worry. Parents told sons to be safe, brave, safe. I love you was said over and over again.
Since that call, Israel has been involved in an offensive which involves heavy air attacks with ground support at the border. As of Shabbat afternoon 120 missiles have fallen in Israel. Israelis are spending Shabbat in bomb shelters. Ashkelon. Beersheba. Sederot. Etc. It seems that 18 terrorists are killed including the terrorist responsible for the kidnapping for Gilead Shalit.
Ilan is just one soldier, one child among many. But he is ours and his name and face helps make Israel personal. The press is very focused on three or four headlines and they loop around in our minds day after day as if to hypnotize in to believing that only these few things are worthy of our attention. But what happens in Israel is worthy of our attention, our concern, our prayers.
My guess is that we are about to re-enter the ultimate war – the war of propaganda.
Stay informed: Israelim.com ynetnews.com. honestreporting.com.
I’ll post frequent updates on Facebook. There has been no word from Ilan. Maybe it will end tomorrow and he will call. Ezra is in Israel. Early this morning he heard the tension in my voice. He said, “You are now the mother of a soldier. Be brave. Be proud.”
May God protect our children and may peace fall quickly upon our troubled earth.