Daily Alert Archives

Sirens Are My New Normal

(Times of Israel) Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg - When we moved to Modi'in, I thought we were generally out of range - close enough to the center of the country for convenience, far enough from the borders to feel insulated. I remember hearing and seeing how residents of Sderot lived near Gaza. I wondered how people could live like that - always expecting a siren, always calculating the distance to the nearest shelter. I couldn't imagine it. Now, I don't have to imagine. Before the Houthi threat, sirens were rare. Now, there's no rhythm, they just happen. Sirens are my new normal. I've lost count of how many times I've called my kids, my husband, and my parents to check if everyone's okay. There are moments I'll never forget - like crouching against a wall with my son because we couldn't make it to a shelter, both my husband and I covering his body with ours to protect him, literally ready to take the hit for him. Or the night Iran attacked, and the sirens came one after another after another. It felt endless. But mostly, the sirens have become routine. My heart rate doesn't spike anymore. We've all learned to live with this new version of normal. We adapt. The writer is Manager of Resource Development at ANU-Museum of the Jewish People.
2025-06-12 00:00:00
Full Article