- Avi Lurie, IDF Reserves
I made Aliyah in 2014 to come to Israel, and today I'm supposed to be starting my orientation for my master's degree in human computer and direction. But instead, I'm currently sitting inside a vehicle, and it doesn't look like that's going to be happening.
When I made Aliyah in 2014, I left everything behind to come help my country. I could not imagine that anything like this could happen. I woke up at about six in the morning, I think three days, four days ago, I can't keep track of time anymore. And I saw that there were 50 Israelis killed by terrorists in the South. And I thought to myself, it'll be quick.
I couldn't have fathomed at that moment that the number of Israelis killed would be over a thousand. That we would hear about 40 babies being beheaded and slaughtered. Families, their houses burned and then shot as they ran out.
I couldn't, I still can't fathom and I can't process this, I can't understand what's going on. What I can understand is that at 4:30 in the morning that Sunday, I got the call that I was pacing around my house waiting for, "you're drafted to reserve duty." I dropped everything at home. Of course I thought about what I was leaving behind, but didn't matter. I dropped everything packed my bag and made my way.
Now I'm here. I don't have a family right now in Israel. I don't have kids, but the guy sleeping in the bed next to me has four kids, And each night they ask him, "Daddy, when are you coming home?"
And his response has to be, "I don't know."
And to hear his wife say, "But you're coming home."
And to hear him say, "I don't know."
I can't begin to describe what's going on. What I can say is the support has been unwavering, unbelievable, incredible. Every penny, every piece of food, every item of tactic gear, everything, means the world to us. I know some people feel like they're useless or they can't help. You are helping. The messages, the support, everything.
I'm still waiting for my alarm clock to go off and to wake up from this nightmare.
Hamas said that they opened up the gates of hell. What they didn't realize and what they didn't know is that we are here waiting for them.
We will win.
Am Yisrael Chai.
WATCH: Avi Lurie
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Help provide soldiers like Lurie with emergency relief by making a gift to the Philly Stands with Israel Fund: jewishphilly.org/emergency