By Jamie Neumann
Nearly two weeks ago, I was on a volunteer mission in Israel during the unprecedented, large-scale Iranian drone and missile attack.
My family and I flew to Israel on Apr. 12 right before the start of Shabbat. Once Havdalah was finished on Saturday night, we started hearing reports of an incoming Iranian attack. We were receiving texts from friends and family in the States, worried about what might happen.
But what we witnessed in Israel was not like anything that anyone expected.
At about 1 a.m., I started getting nonstop red alerts on my phone — south Negev, central Negev, north Negev, south Beersheva, north Beersheva … until Jerusalem, which is where we were based.
We headed down to a bomb shelter, where we stayed for 10 minutes. We heard interceptions of rockets in the air; once we went out from the shelter, we quickly realized that more than 300 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles were all largely intercepted in the air.
There was minimal damage in Israel. This is what we could not explain to our friends and family back home. Yes, the attack was horrific and targeted military, government and civilian sites, but Israel and its allies were able to stop virtually all of the rockets from falling.
It was a huge miracle that only one person – a 7-year-old Bedouin girl — was injured in the attack. Credit must go to Israel’s allies and neighbors who opened their airspace for defense and provided intelligence to help intercept missiles before they hit Israel.
We tried to explain that Israel is built for this. Israel sent out its air force and used the Iron Dome air defense system to protect Arabs, Jews, Muslims and Christians, and all of the holy sites of all the religions.
In situations in which the Iron Dome and air force couldn’t prevent rockets from falling, bomb shelters were available everywhere for when a red alert is issued. This is how Israel has always chosen to invest its money — in civilian safety while they are constantly under attack.
The day following the attacks, there was dancing in Tel Aviv, shopping and dining in Jerusalem — it was as if nothing happened. No one could have imagined that more than 300 missiles and drones were aimed at us a few hours earlier.
That is Israel.
We spent the remainder of our time there helping to rebuild the damage perpetrated by terrorists on Oct. 7. We helped farmers who lost their workers, visited wounded soldiers, brought supplies to reservists rushed out of their homes for military duty, visited different hostage sites and packed food for people who have suffered financially.
No terrorists will break Israel and its bond with Diaspora Jewry.
Historically, Iran is a country that hides behind its proxies in a war against the West, while refusing to allow its citizens to have a voice or equal rights. Israel supports everything Iran doesn’t — safety for Jews, Christians and Arabs, equal rights for women, acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community, a refuge for Jews of color, and so much more.
The things that make Israel successful and special come from the hard work of intelligent people of all different backgrounds.
Mazel tov to Israel on telling Iran and its proxies, “You will not stop us from thriving, you will not stop the West’s support of Israel.” Thank you for giving me and my family more insight into the strength and courage of Israel in the face of a historic, unprecedented attack.
Jamie Neumann is a digital marketing specialist who lives in Pikesville
The 16-year-old sophomore succumbed to injuries sustained in a car crash last week in Cockeysville.
Schools in Montgomery County have recently experienced a wave of antisemitic incidents.
Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, M.D., reacts to President Donald Trump's latest poll numbers and the real force behind the growing decline of the Trump movement.
CCBC Honors scholars are discovering a level of academic rigor and opportunity typically associated with elite four-year institutions.