Sandstorms in the desert blown our way from the Sahara. My eyes itch. It irritates my throat. The government issues warnings. The Ministry of Health warns the public, particularly at-risk populations, such as the elderly and asthmatics, to avoid spending time outdoors and refrain from outdoor activities requiring effort. Not unusual for the government to issue such warnings.

My eyes are tired of darkness peering out of my home office, with its steel-sealed window. Natural light, even on a hazy, sand stormy day is preferable. I open the window, because there’s enough time to close it when we turn my home office, otherwise known as our granddaughters’ playroom, into our saferoom. The government issues a warning. The mayor and the IDF Home Front Command send messages alerting us of pending air-raid sirens. A signal to be as near a shelter as possible. A few minutes pass. The air raid siren.

We halt what we are doing. I close the window. Haim closes the door. The saferoom doorhandle is raised to a 90° position from its usual resting place. We sit on the sofa-bed awaiting booms and the next message to be issued advising us it’s safe to leave the saferoom. But not before Haim says, “Who knows who will be left without a home for Shabbat?” That........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)