World War III is imminent; Iran is threatening; Hezbollah has been sending rockets into the north; war with Hamas is not over.

 

And yet . . . ,

 

Newark’s Terminal B was crowded; El Al’s flight LY26 was full; Ben Gurion Airport was packed; traffic going from the airport to our daughter’s apartment in Rehovot was heavy; sidewalks were nearly impassable; restaurants and stores were full.

 

With everything going on, why are the streets crowded? Maybe Israelis are just reading different news and don’t know what we know? Here’s my observation:

 

Israelis are well aware of the situation and take certain precautions as they go about their normal lives.

 

Walking into the apartment building, the safe room is pointed out. “If you hear the alert, you have 1.5 minutes.” There’s a plan in case there’s a middle-of-the-night alarm. Soldiers walk around the streets in uniform carrying large rifles.

 

At Friday night services, a congregant got up to lead Kabalat Shabbat. He placed his rifle next to him as he put on his tallit. Jarring, perhaps, if not used to it, but also reassuring.

 

Are people on edge? Maybe, but I honestly didn’t see it or even sense it. As a disclaimer, I should note that I spent the whole two weeks of my stay in the city of Rehovot and cannot speak firsthand about anything happening elsewhere.