My wife and I just returned from Israel armed with glorious memories to last a lifetime.

We arrived in Israel a number of weeks ago to visit our recently married granddaughter and her husband, who is studying in Israel. We stayed in a great apartment, owned by my sister-in-law, at Keter David (David’s Crown), in the heart of Jerusalem. Little did we know or appreciate then that the ready access to a bomb shelter on the floor would be so important.

It was thrilling to be with the young couple, as doting grandparents treasuring every moment we spent with them. We were able to revisit so many amazing sites with our granddaughter, like the Begin Museum, Givat Hatachmoshet Memorial, tour the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Old Jewish Quarter, pray at the Kotel Katan, and be inspired by the warm friendly and engaging atmosphere we experienced together. We also saw some new sites like the Holon Design Museum featuring Heroines and Knesset Museum, where our excellent tour guide was a young lady doing Sherut Leumi (National Service) from Boca Raton, Florida; what a genuine treat. We were able to share in the fresh impressions of our grandchildren, as they absorbed our people’s extraordinary history.

Every morning, afternoon and evening, I attended regular prayers in Ohel Yitzchak, a Synagogue and Beit Midrash (Study Hall), conveniently located downstairs in the building. I met so many old friends from many different places and made new ones. The convivial atmosphere was very inviting, inspiring group Torah study.

Coincidentally, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, of the Boca Raton Synagogue, led a fly-in to Israel, during our stay, to meet and study with outstanding Rabbinical figures and other leaders. I joined with them for a number of sessions, including the outstanding meeting with Ambassador Mike Huckabee. It was a privilege to be a part of the gathering and I even got to ask a question, which he answered with aplomb. It was a fantastic learning experience and so was sharing it with many amazing friends from Boca.

Then came the latest iteration of the evil Iranian Regime’s ongoing aggression against Israel and the US. We began truly to understand that Israel was on the front lines of the war against the US and Israel and this was not a trite expression; it was real. Our originally scheduled flight back to the US was cancelled as the ongoing war heated up on that Shabbat morning of Parshat Zachor.

The next few days were a combination of interludes of necessary daily life activities and the glaring sound of sirens warning of incoming missiles, alerting us to go to a shelter. We had downloaded the app that gave advance warnings and proceeded swiftly to the nearest shelter, well appreciating the convenience of having one adjacent to our apartment.

During prayers at Ohel Yitzchak, when an alert sounded, we moved to a nearby underground parking garage in the complex that served as a public shelter. It happened once during the Torah reading, and it was amazing to see how everyone pitched in to move the Torah to the garage and seamlessly continue the public reading. I marveled at the fortitude of everyone around me. There was no pushing or rushing. Indeed, there was a sense of duty and respect, combined with unusual graciousness and actual kindness, as the elderly and infirm were helped to reach safety and everyone deferred to each other to reduce stress and assure all were safe.

Celebrating Shushan Purim in Jerusalem was a real delight. Who could miss the parallels, as we gratefully thanked G-d for the hidden miracles that protected us.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the sincere efforts of those around me, who really cared, to make sure everyone was safe. Even when we were outdoors, when an alert sounded, we were urged to come into a nearby shelter, whether it was a loading entrance off Agron Street to the Waldorf Hotel; or the basement shelter, at the Herbert Samuels Hotel.

Imagine sitting at lunch with our grandchildren at Mojo Restaurant in Jerusalem and hearing an alert. What happened next is something I would hardly have expected anywhere else in the world. The waiter came to our table and offered to accompany us to a nearby parking garage shelter. We rose and followed him. It was an early warning and according to our phones there was some time. My beloved wife insisted we first pay the bill. The waiter calculated how much time we had to reach the shelter and reluctantly agreed. Is there anywhere else in the world like this?

On trains or buses, there were so many times when young people rose and offered my wife and me their seats. I must say, I kvelled that unlike in New York City, where I was usually the only one to offer my seat to an elder or pregnant woman, here it was a common courtesy.

We did feel fear and trepidation, prayed for a Refuah Sheleima (a complete recovery) for those who were hurt and mourned those who lost their lives to the homicidal Iranian Regime’s ballistic missiles.

However, we also experienced the resilience and spirit of a united people facing the danger together. United we rock and are blessed. Am Yisrael Chai.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)