I have a process for days of hope and peril. A small backpack with water, snacks, a book (maybe 2 books), a journal, reading glasses, pens, a first aid kit (small), and a small flashlight. Most days, it is not needed, but occasionally it is an anchor and a source of comfort. Also, the knowledge that the days and hours are limited, and I am privileged not to know how many days or hours. Its a bit odd - I get it.
In truth, I am rarely in harm's way, till I remember: artillery going over our heads, two different volcanic eruptions, trapped overseas by COVID, a small gang of highwaymen(boys), border closures when I was between borders, a vehicle breakdown 250k from help, transit strike stranding me for 10 days, and lesser peril or disruptions. These are the times to remember our faith. Your's is very strong.
If you are impatient with your own trivial and excusable impatience, you should just see (but don’t, because it’s bad for morale) the colossal, disgusting, cowardly impatience of most of our commentariat here in America (and, I assume, elsewhere in the West)! Safe, secure, rich, soft people, even including some alleged men, with impatience turned up to 11, raised to a high power, and blasted through loudspeakers 24/7!
With this I am entirely out of patience.
Stay safe. Israel must win. You are not only preserving yourselves, our history and future, and us in the diaspora, but the whole da**ed ungrateful world. Like Atlas, you carry the earth on your shoulders. Stay strong.
Russ, your honesty is bracing — particularly the shame at your own impatience measured against what others are enduring.
Your three rules should be required reading for anyone commenting on this war from a safe distance.
The patience paradox you identify at the end — that time is the key variable for everyone, and whoever blinks first loses — is the sharpest observation I've read from anyone inside the war zone.
“Here in Israel, 300 people are protecting about 10 million people.”
With all due respect Russ, remember “It’s a Wonderful Loaf.” Hundreds of millions of people have contributed prescriptive and propositional knowledge that allow us (Israelis and Americans) the systems of maintaining justice using electro-magnetically guided precision projectiles. While your statement is correct, it does neglect many others—engineers, scientists, bakers, miners, teachers, janitors, etc—who were an important part of the team, going back hundreds of years in many countries.
Perhaps the large spikes in government spending that we see in Crisis and Leviathan are not so sad after all. The Silent Generation and Cold Warriors contributed too. Joel Mokyr is right—the acquisition of useful knowledge is the most important aspect of human nature. Billions of people have contributed to the protection of Israel’s 10 million.
John Wooden teaches us how to recognize the important contributions of everyone on the team. Let’s not focus too much on the players doing the scoring, but rather everyone that makes possible a good shot opportunity.
Sounds like you need a place to go outside of the house, but not on the road. Perhaps you could shoot hoops like Tyler Cowen does every day. Or go to a soccer field, gym, or track and work on your strength, agility, or cardio. This always gives me a lift. If you can just do something uplifting outside of the house for an hour a day that would probably be enough to sustain you. Maybe you ignore the sirens for one hour a day and just risk it?
I think those on the homefront need a lot of support of a different kind. I also highly suggest going out every day and going places a bit, it really helps
Insightful as usual. I’m praying for you and everyone’s safety in the region. Patience seems like the answer most of the times - and you said it very well in the post. Thank you for taking the time to share these insights.
I agree with your assessment that Israel only has 200 to 300 combat aircraft however I think your estimate that they are only 300 hundred pilots is to low. I think with all the reserves there's a lot more pilots than that. I certainly hope there are, that's a tremendous burden on very small number of people if not.
I have a process for days of hope and peril. A small backpack with water, snacks, a book (maybe 2 books), a journal, reading glasses, pens, a first aid kit (small), and a small flashlight. Most days, it is not needed, but occasionally it is an anchor and a source of comfort. Also, the knowledge that the days and hours are limited, and I am privileged not to know how many days or hours. Its a bit odd - I get it.
In truth, I am rarely in harm's way, till I remember: artillery going over our heads, two different volcanic eruptions, trapped overseas by COVID, a small gang of highwaymen(boys), border closures when I was between borders, a vehicle breakdown 250k from help, transit strike stranding me for 10 days, and lesser peril or disruptions. These are the times to remember our faith. Your's is very strong.
If you are impatient with your own trivial and excusable impatience, you should just see (but don’t, because it’s bad for morale) the colossal, disgusting, cowardly impatience of most of our commentariat here in America (and, I assume, elsewhere in the West)! Safe, secure, rich, soft people, even including some alleged men, with impatience turned up to 11, raised to a high power, and blasted through loudspeakers 24/7!
With this I am entirely out of patience.
Stay safe. Israel must win. You are not only preserving yourselves, our history and future, and us in the diaspora, but the whole da**ed ungrateful world. Like Atlas, you carry the earth on your shoulders. Stay strong.
Well said. This current crop of leaders and media would have lasted two months in WWII.
Russ, your honesty is bracing — particularly the shame at your own impatience measured against what others are enduring.
Your three rules should be required reading for anyone commenting on this war from a safe distance.
The patience paradox you identify at the end — that time is the key variable for everyone, and whoever blinks first loses — is the sharpest observation I've read from anyone inside the war zone.
I hope you and your wife stay safe.
“Here in Israel, 300 people are protecting about 10 million people.”
With all due respect Russ, remember “It’s a Wonderful Loaf.” Hundreds of millions of people have contributed prescriptive and propositional knowledge that allow us (Israelis and Americans) the systems of maintaining justice using electro-magnetically guided precision projectiles. While your statement is correct, it does neglect many others—engineers, scientists, bakers, miners, teachers, janitors, etc—who were an important part of the team, going back hundreds of years in many countries.
Perhaps the large spikes in government spending that we see in Crisis and Leviathan are not so sad after all. The Silent Generation and Cold Warriors contributed too. Joel Mokyr is right—the acquisition of useful knowledge is the most important aspect of human nature. Billions of people have contributed to the protection of Israel’s 10 million.
John Wooden teaches us how to recognize the important contributions of everyone on the team. Let’s not focus too much on the players doing the scoring, but rather everyone that makes possible a good shot opportunity.
Extraordinarily well-written, and absolutely captures how I’m feeling as well. Sending you thanks from the north.
Sounds like you need a place to go outside of the house, but not on the road. Perhaps you could shoot hoops like Tyler Cowen does every day. Or go to a soccer field, gym, or track and work on your strength, agility, or cardio. This always gives me a lift. If you can just do something uplifting outside of the house for an hour a day that would probably be enough to sustain you. Maybe you ignore the sirens for one hour a day and just risk it?
Thank you so much for sharing, as someone in the US sick of the commentary here and dying for Israeli perspective
I think those on the homefront need a lot of support of a different kind. I also highly suggest going out every day and going places a bit, it really helps
Insightful as usual. I’m praying for you and everyone’s safety in the region. Patience seems like the answer most of the times - and you said it very well in the post. Thank you for taking the time to share these insights.
Thanks for this.
Very well written. I wish more people could write honestly and insightfully like this.
💙
I agree with your assessment that Israel only has 200 to 300 combat aircraft however I think your estimate that they are only 300 hundred pilots is to low. I think with all the reserves there's a lot more pilots than that. I certainly hope there are, that's a tremendous burden on very small number of people if not.
Stay safe.
Stay safe Russ. And Chag Sameach!