In the face of Hamas terror attacks and threats, the indomitable spirit of Jerusalem residents shines brilliantly, as they stand resolute and united, determined to remain in the eternal city, unwavering in their support for Israel during these turbulent and trying times.
By Troy O. Fritzhand, Algemeiner
Israel’s capital city is no stranger to conflict. Indeed, conflict has been a part of Jerusalem’s DNA for millennia — and certainly since the establishment of the modern state of Israel. As such, the city has built a resilience that has been imbued with its residents, both native-born and resettled.
Following Hamas’ terrorist onslaught earlier this month that claimed the lives of more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, the country found itself on a sudden pause. Bars, restaurants, and shops all shuttered as people locked themselves in their homes, not knowing what would come next. In Jerusalem, fears of rogue Hamas terrorists who may have made their way into the city filled the air.
However, these fears quickly subsided, and by last Tuesday, less than 72 hours after the worst terror massacre in Israel’s history, Jerusalem came back to life. By the end of the first week of the war, the streets were once again bustling, with even the Mahane Yehuda market filled with shoppers once more.
Speaking to Jerusalem residents, one can sense the strength in their words.
“Like everyone else, my heart is broken, sad, hurting, confused, angry, asking questions, looking for hope, looking for comfort,” said Harel Bocobza, a lawyer who was raised in the center of Israel but now resides in the capital. “The Jewish people have one soul and one heart that are found in parts within millions of people; we are all hurting because the nation of Israel is our family. With all the pain, we will find strength to win and grow — we are with eternity.”
Bocobza added that Jerusalem is stronger than the terror it faced because “it is moral, and Hamas and terrorism are the opposite of morality. Jerusalem is the symbol of light and values, the symbol of peace and hope.”
Asher Sebban is a yeshiva student from Los Angeles who recounted the initial feeling of horror on Oct. 7, when the number of dead Israelis grew as did the rumors amid Hamas’ surprise invasion from Gaza. “We were all in shock, not sure what was happening,” he said. “We did not know what to feel or what to do.”
Once the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah ended and the reality set in, “I would be lying if I said we weren’t scared,” Sebban said. In the end, though, he explained the choice he and other Israelis have made is “to face the fear with courage, sadness with joy, shock with reality, and emotional numbness with the courage to feel for others.”
Sebban spoke of some of the initiatives his yeshiva has undertaken since the outbreak of the war, such as playing sports with kids in the community who are out of school, packing food for soldiers, tying tzitzit [tassels worn by observant Jews] for soldiers, and praying and learning “in the merit of the protection of the soldiers and the people of Israel.”
For many Jerusalem residents, living ordinary life amid conflict is par for the course.
Jonathan Sagir, a tech entrepreneur who was born in raised in the capital city, said his childhood in Jerusalem was a “dichotomy — joy exploring its winding alleys, but also the backdrop of conflict … Buses exploded on my route to school, nights out with friends became scenes of war. As a Jerusalemite, you know evil lurks, targeting Jews for being Jews.”
Now 38 and married with three kids, Sagir remarked that “the Jerusalem I love encapsulates the Jewish experience, surrounded by hostility yet resilient.” He added that it is a “privilege raising children in David’s city.”
Another Jerusalemite, Harel Ben-Michael, a student and author, said in recent days he sensed “the Israeli spirit — a default optimism — in the air.”
Israelis in Jerusalem made a point of not despairing, even after Hamas rampaged across southern Israel, explaining that whatever happens to the Palestinian terrorist group, Jerusalem will outlast it.
“Jerusalem is eternal,” said Ben-Michael. “The name literally means ‘city of peace.’ While Jerusalem stands forever, Hamas is just a footnote of history.”
Initiatives to support Israel’s soldiers have sprung up all across the capital city. Practically every coffee shop and restaurant has shifted its focus from serving customers to bringing in volunteers to cook food for soldiers. Meanwhile, individuals have cooked at their homes, purchased essential clothing such as underwear and socks, and made monetary donations to ensure all the soldiers are cared for during the war — however long it may last.
The Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, which Sagir advises, has been donating supplies and storage for equipment for frontline soldiers. “Seeing Jerusalemites rush to aid each other reaffirms my love for this eternal city,” said Sagir.
Such reaffirmation is hardly isolated, as few people are actually leaving Jerusalem — or Israel more broadly — during the war. Indeed, the US Embassy’s evacuation boat to leave the country had nearly 3,000 sign-ups, but in the end only around 200 showed up.
“We don’t leave home in time of war. There is a lot to do here to help the joint war effort,” said Bocobza, who also has a European passport. “Even if some things can be done abroad, the symbolic element has a lot of meaning … we need to show presence that we are here.”
He expressed confidence that the Jewish state would prevail over Hamas, adding, “We are here because this is our eternal land … Our goal is life and peace; their goal is murder and death. They hurt us very, very, very much — we will win and bring back the light. The enemy will be completely destroyed with God’s help.”
Sebban, in a yeshiva with mainly non-Israelis, said people “began to question whether to stay or leave, and most parents were frantic.” However, he added, students were still arguing nonetheless with their parents who wanted them to leave.”
“People in the US may not understand that many of us have friends and family on the front lines. How can we, living in the safety of our homes, run away while they put their lives on the line,” Sebban said. “Plus, there is so much that needs to be done. For example, many parents were called into the reserves and need babysitters.”
He added: “Now is not a time to leave; it is a time to help.”
Ben-Michael echoed that sentiment, saying unity is essential and leaving would be a boost for Hamas.
“I can’t imagine leaving Israel. We are in this together — left, right, Jews, Arabs, religious, and secular. When we suffer, we suffer together, and in this war we will also triumph together,” he said. “Leaving Israel means letting Hamas win, and I am not going to give them that pleasure.”