Family not deterred

Letters

Editor: In response to Yigal Kaikov's letter ("Israel trip worth risk," Bulletin, Oct. 11), I too would like to write about my family's trip to Israel recently.

Like Yigal had written, the decision to go was not an easy one. My husband Yossi and I had a lot to think about. The occasion was to be at our twin daughters' bat mitzvah. We had celebrated our eldest son Oz's bar mitzvah three years ago at the Western Wall and the long-awaited plan was to celebrate the girls' bat mitzvah in our land of Israel with our family and friends.

Violence began to escalate after the Passover massacre in Netanya's Park Hotel, and our motion of confidence to celebrate the coming of age of our daughters Sivan and Shani, began to be questioned. Do we put our four children at risk? Do we let the fear overcome our longtime intentions, or do we overcome the fear and follow our intentions? Despite the many Vancouver Jews and non-Jews who openly questioned our rationale, we decided to go to Israel.

On July 21, Sivan and Shani celebrated their bat mitzvah surrounded by a loving extended family and friends. The party venue was just a few blocks south of the May bombing of the billiard parlor in the new industrial area of Rishon l'Zion.

Inside the party hall, the family simchah was jubilant and exalting, full of love and naches galore. We were celebrating a Jewish ritual of bat mitzvah in our Jewish state.

Outside the party hall, two security guards were protecting and defending our need for peace at our Jewish celebration in our Jewish state.

These images have not left me and continue to have impact on me and on my love and fear for Zion.

Two weeks ago, Sivan and Shani were asked to speak to the Royal City chapter of Hadassah women in Maple Ridge about their trip to Israel. Shani concluded by saying, "There wouldn't be any other place in the world where I would have rather celebrated my bat mitzvah, but in Israel." Yes Yigal, I also think that the trip to Israel was worth the risk.

Debbie Havusha
Vancouver

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