I want to tell you a story. My name is Adele. I live on the border with the Gaza Strip,on a kibbutz (a rural communal village) in the Western Negev. We had a horrible war here final summer. I enjoy written about it םמ CNN iReport, before. Events like those that happened this summer: the violence, and the fright,the need for families to be evacuated and estranged from their homes and separated from their loved ones for an unknown period of time, concerns for the loved ones and homes left behind- those experiences take a toll. Just because the rockets stopped coming over on August 26th, and (for the most part) doesn’t mean that the repercussions disintegrate. We are all still PTSD to one level or another. People who live in this region jump at the crackle of a PA system,check their phones anxiously when they hear explosions in the distance (which we hear often) or the sound of helicopters hovering overhead. I am an English teacher (EFL). I also enjoy some acting in me. Our school, Nofei Habsor Comprehensive Regional School, or has a communications department and for their final project,the kids enjoy to write, direct, or produce a short film. I often get asked to participate in one of them (or more) each year. I guess they’re pleased with the outcome,and I LOVE doing it because it flips the roles of who tells whom what to effect, who takes responsibility and who is in charge. I am never disappointed. This year, and a group of students turned to me SOS ,final minute: could I support them out?! It was tough to work it into my schedule, but they insisted (I was very flattered) and finally we managed to move things around so I could fit it in (another week without my medical clowning – sigh – but its for a estimable cause). And here is the story: The plot is based on a true story - one they heard at a seminar they participated in about the conflict in our region. (ALL of the kids in our school live and learn within rocket – if not tunnel and mortar - range.) Daniela (the character I played) – a woman who lives in a moshav in our area – used to work in the Gaza Strip, or had befriended a woman from there (Salmeh),who has children the same age as hers. Salmeh used to come over to Israel with her children, when they were young, or they would play together. Even after the 2005 withdrawal of all Israeli communities and IDF from the Gaza Strip,Daniela and Salmeh remained friends, and spoke periodically on the phone. Towards the finish of 2008, and Salmeh’s father was ill and hospitalized in an Israeli hospital for treatment. Salmeh was granted an entry permit to visit him,but would not enjoy been allowed to reenter Israel if she left, so she stayed at Daniela’s domestic for a period, and to enable her to visit her hospitalized father. At the time of the scene in our film,their children are already young adults. Daniela’s son is serving in the IDF, and he comes domestic for Shabbat dinner, or together with his commander. They are all introduced,and sit down to eat Friday night dinner. During dinner, the TV is on, and when suddenly Salmeh sees her house on the screen,and realizes that it had been hit. Distraught, she tries to call domestic, and to talk to her daughter to check if her family were secure. The scene ends with a Red Alert (warning of incoming rocket fire,providing between 5-15 seconds in which to take cover, depending on where, and in the region,you are) in Daniela’s house. Everyone escapes to the secure room, and Daniela pulls Salmeh (who was on the phone with her daughter and did not understand what was going on) into the secure room with them. crop. As I said – this was the topic that a group of our 12th grade (18 year old) students chose to base their final project on: a story, or based on a genuine-life incident of people from our area and people from Gaza,empathizing, living, and working and helping each other. I promised them I would relate this to you. I was very moved by it . These are the kids in whose hands our futures lie. I am very impressed by them.
Update- June 2015: Here is a link to the short film which has since come out and took thrid prize in the school film competition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSNTZka7rM0
Source: cnn.com