Local opinion: Armchair quarterback, but have you visited Israel?

Armchair quarterbacking. Isn’t that what we call those who share their unsolicited opinions or advice, regardless of their knowledge or experience? In recent months, as tensions in the region rose, with news the bodies of each hostage returned, my level of panic and stress built. I had not been to Israel since 2010 and had not seen my cousins and uncle who live there in many years. Each day I was more worried that I would get news that I would no longer have a chance to see my Uncle Murray, a Holocaust survivor, who is preparing to celebrate his 97th birthday in August.

Feeling helpless going about my daily routine in Tucson, not knowing what else I could do to show my support for the families of hostages, I decided to book a flight to Israel. My return trip, on June 13th, was actually the very last flight to depart Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, before all flights were canceled indefinitely, 30 minutes after my flight departed. I spent just over two weeks visiting with families of hostages as well as my own family, and a friend from high school who lives in Israel. I posted many photos of my adventures, including incredible vegan dishes I tried, exploring as many of the 400+ vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv that I could, in those short two weeks.

I can’t say I’m shocked by what I see posted on social media. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. That lies at the very heart of democracy. Israel is also a democracy, and her citizens are entitled to agree or disagree with government policies. Many Israelis strongly disagree with the current government’s handling of the state of things, including 53 hostages remaining held in Gaza.

I can say that I felt extremely safe the entire time I was in Israel, even in spite of running to the hotel’s shelter five times during my stay, after receiving alerts from the Home Front Command app installed on my phone. Tel Aviv was preparing for a huge Pride Parade, and the excitement for the celebration was evident. Many people were arriving for Pride as I was winding down my trip. The parade was scheduled for Friday, June 13th, the day I flew home. I found out when I landed at LAX that the parade, and all public gatherings, had been canceled.

Israelis I spoke with thanked me for coming to Israel, sharing that having tourists return to Israel gave them hope. The owner of a shop I visited in Jerusalem, where I purchased a tallit (prayer shawl) for my fiancé, shared that it was his sincere pleasure to open up tallitot (plural for prayer shawls) and show them to Robert, via FaceTime, explaining that for two years he did not have the opportunity to open up and show anyone a tallit.

Why does it matter that I as one person went to Israel, purchased some items, and returned safely? Quite literally, for Jewish people, we have nowhere else to go. As a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors that is not an exaggeration. Nearly 80% of my family was murdered during the Holocaust. There was nowhere to go. According to the Anti-Defamation League incidents of Anti-Semitism have increased in the U.S. during the past five years at a rate of 344%. Just two months ago, here in Tucson, a synagogue was vandalized with antisemitic slurs, and in 2023 three synagogues were targeted and vandalized. I will not armchair quarterback. I need to make sure, for my future, for my daughter, and for the Jewish people, that there will be a place to go.