An Open Letter to my Family and Friends

By Andee Goldman

(Edited by Stacey Miller)

Since moving to Israel almost four years ago, I have been exposed to events that are not usually shown on the nightly news.  Living in America I was color blind and I have found I am still color blind.  I have met people from France, England, Belgium, South Africa, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Demark, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Australia, India, Philippines,                             Russians, America, etc.                                   

                                              (Above:) Andee (r) and friend during a Sar-El stint.

The two holidays we recently celebrated in Israel are very difficult for me. Two very different and emotional holidays - Memorial Day for the Soldiers; and Independence Day.   I see before me a nation that was forced to come together in order to survive.

There are so many questions without answers.  It is a way of life.  Can you image living in a small country where your neighbors and others want to destroy you? You learn to value life and your freedom.

When I was a new immigrant to Israel I went to the local cemetery to see what Israel’s Memorial Day was like. To tell you the truth, I never went to a cemetery for Memorial Day in America. Why? We had a day off from work or school and the day was for shopping.  In Israel, children are in school and for most citizens it is a normal work day. I will never forget when the Mayor of Netanya told me that to be Israeli is to have experienced a war or have a family member or friend killed fighting for freedom. 

In [the] four years [that I have lived in Israel], I have experienced two wars. I just laid flowers on the grave of my friend Avi’s brother who was killed at the age of 21.

[On] Sunday I spent the day in the Old City of Jerusalem. Walking in the Jewish Quarter, I met many Palestinian shopkeepers. Yes, Arab business owners in the Jewish section of the Old City. One told me his family owned the same store for 65 years.  [He said that] life for his family was difficult under Jordanian rule and that now he makes more money.  The Palestinian cabdriver that took us to the Central Bus Station said life was good, but [that] he felt bad for the Palestinian people in Gaza because their government was holding them back.

I asked every Arab that I met two questions:

1)  Why didn't the [Palestinians]  [choose to] become a country when the UN gave them the same opportunity that Israel was given in 1948? 

2)  Why, after over 60 years, [are] there  still refugee camps?

No one could answer.

Today is Israel’s 62^nd Independence Day. It is a day for family and friends, fireworks, barbecues and picnics. All of the stores are closed, there aren't any newspaper deliveries  or mail. Israeli flags are proudly displayed on cars, houses and street posts.

Freedom comes at a cost. As a dual citizen, American-Israeli, I am proud of all the men and women who fight to keep both America and Israel safe from terrorists who want to destroy our way of life. As a mother, I cry for [all of] the mothers who have lost a child and [for] the children who have lost a parent.

I would like to share with you the letter I wrote to President Obama and my US Senator and Congresswoman.

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