The Beat Goes on…

The Beat Goes on….

This was a popular song written and composed by Sonny Bono and performed by Sonny and Cher, back in 1967.
These words and this song came to me as I was driving from the city of Modiin to Givat Zeev. A drive of about 25 min (without additional traffic). As I drove, I listened to the radio. Suddenly, the radio music stopped , and the warning alarm came thru. The radio and TV stations in Israel all broadcast all the warning alarms as they happen, even if you are not within the specific area of danger. They even announce what areas are within the expected fallout from the rockets or missiles that are launched from Iran, Lebanon or Yemen, so that we have time to get to a protected area as quickly as possible. Once they have finished broadcasting the initial alarm, the music continues as if nothing has changed. Fortunately I was not in a danger area as I continued driving.
Last week, I was driving thru Modiin when the siren sounded. I parked my car, and looked around for a shelter. I saw a mother and daughter walk into an apartment building . I went up to them to ask where the nearest shelter was, and they invited me to the safe room in their apartment . I sat together with the husband, wife and 3 teenage + kids till the all clear was given. I now have new friends! When it was over ,I continued on my way.
As the song says.. The Beat goes on.

This really encapsulates for me our situation today.

We here in Israel are extremely fortunate to have the early warning system and the directives of Home Front Command.The Home Front Command has really done its best to educate and encourage us to all take cover, go into protected areas where possible.Their members are on every news program, sitting together with the commentators and newscasters. They have become an integral part of our daily lives Most of us, really do follow their directions. It really does save lives.

Even our dog Shadow, knows what to do when he hears the siren. If we are in the house, he is the first down to our basement. Our other dog Fibi is much older, but a good follower! When we are on a walk and Shadow hears the siren thru my phone, he pulls very hard on his leash as if to tell me- Time to go home, to safety . As we sit waiting for the “all clear” both our dogs make themselves as comfortable as they can. When it is over, the beat goes on.

It’s hard to imagine the above scenario, unless you live here.
I can remember as a young kid in L.A, we had Earthquake drills. The Principal would come into the classroom and yell earthquake ! We would then need to hide under our desks, in case some debris would fall. We had lots of fun laughing at teachers who also had to hide under their desks! I also remember that there was a time where there were sirens in case of nuclear fallout.Every so often the radio and TV would emit a signal as a test of the public broadcasting system. After the test or drill, class or the music would continue. The beat goes on.

We are a resilient people. Everyone knows this. We have been through too many wars, battles, incursions, etc. Unfortunately this seems to be our destiny. Yes, we live in trying times. We go about our daily routine with our ears listening for a siren, and our eyes looking for a shelter if needed. After each siren, we pick ourselves up and continue on our way. The beat goes on.

We believe that we are home, in every sense of the word. The State of Israel is our home, the homeland of the Jewish people.We are proud to call it home. And we will do everything we can to protect it . We develop defensive systems, and rely on our army and reservists for protection. Thank God  our soldiers, systems ,and home front command are in place!

At the same time, we continue to live our lives to the fullest. We make friends thru difficult situations. We look out for each other. When events quiet down, I know that people will come back and tour.

Israel is listed among the top 10 happiest places on earth .

Our Beat Goes On.