As can be seen from the long intervals between letters, I find it difficult during these hard times to sit down and concentrate long enough to be able to write these articles. Just one week ago, terrorists infiltrated the community Itamar. They entered a house killing four of the family members and wounding several others. While listening to the helicopters hovering above and the ambulance sirens on the road below, I thought about the importance of letting the world know about how we feel and what our daily lives are like.

First, about where we live… Our hilltop, which is currently inhabited by four families, is situated one kilometer west of the community Kfar Tapuach and east of Ariel (the capital city of Samaria). On most days, especially just before sunset, the Mediterranean Sea can be seen shimmering on the horizon. When telling people that we live on a hilltop several questions frequently arise. What do we do for a living? Where do we buy food, clothes and toys? In case of emergency where can we go for medical care? Are there soldiers on our hilltop? Aren’t we scared living up on the hill? What do we do for recreation? How long do we plan on living here?

Concerning making a living, although we have dreams of one day having grape orchards and goats (chickens we will G-d willing have soon) there is not too much work available on the hilltop. One of the women works helping a family in Kfar Tapuach. The family who has three children of their own, adopted their six nieces and nephews after the children’s parents were killed by terrorists. My neighbor’s husband works in the security force of the community. The two other women, both mothers of babies Chana’s age, work on a weekly publishing of commentaries on the week’s Torah portion, which is sent out to hundreds of people worldwide. One of the men studies in a Yeshiva while the other does a variety of things including running Kfar Tapuach’s emergency medical programs.

I also work in a community co-ordinating the Jewish Legion’s volunteer program in Israel. In just a few words… It’s an amazing job - although quite time-consuming. I have many wonderful stories to share in my next letter about the volunteers who have come from all around (primarily from the U.S. and Israel) to help guard our community and many others.

As for my husband, Mordechai, he is awaiting being drafted in approximately two weeks. In the meantime, after he worked hard making our house and others in the area look like palaces, he has worked on the hilltop preparing honey. I am not sure but maybe his job which entails being bit by bees at least five times a day is part of his pre-army toughening up.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2002 and is filed under series.