The family have received support from relatives and friends who live in Israel, and have been added to WhatsApp groups for regular updates. Green said: “We’ve got a sense of what our brothers and sisters in Israel go through every time they're in the middle of a war or experiencing anything like this.”
Sharon, a mother-of-two from north London, is visiting with her Israeli-born husband and one of their children.
She told the JC she has found the flight cancellations harder than the the repeated sirens to alert for incoming missiles
Sharon said: “It has been emotional, but we always stay positive.”
The family are staying with close relatives which Sharon said has been “comforting”. “They are so set up for it all - knowing where their nearest safe areas are and how to follow the sirens etc,” she said.
“We have also benefitted from the original Israeli hospitality, running into neighbours’ houses when a siren sounds if they have a bigger safe room - and then being asked if we want to stay for a meal. I’ve been impressed by how organised everyone is, even the small children, and also how regular life carries on as much as possible.”
Former JFS pupil Avi Allon arrived in Israel in in January on the Aardvark gap year programme. He shares his flat in Tel Aviv with four other school leavers in the scheme from around the world.
Former JFS pupil Avi Allon, 18, on a gap year in Israel[Missing Credit]
Allon, 18, told the JC that although he isn’t scared, the situation has been “really really stressful”. He said: “The idea of being attacked and being in a warzone and just hearing explosions, it’s very stress-inducing and I physically feel it. It’s very very tense.”
He said it has been “amazing” to witness how Israelis are reacting: “One minute after the alarm I go to my window and I see people already in the street, getting on with life as if nothing’s happening.
“The people here are very very strong in character and in mind and it’s incredible to see. I came with the understanding that undoubtedly this would happen as I’m here for five months. Part of me wanted to go through this to get a better understanding of what the people here have to go through.”
He added: “I feel a visceral connection to the country so for me it’s very important that I understand what they’re going through.”
Allon said he has confidence in the Iron Dome and Israel’s defence systems, while the camaraderie with friends has definitely helped. “The first night we were all exhausted but we were actually just talking about our favourite childhood video games, trying to keep the atmosphere very happy and very joyful.”
Allon has received lots of messages from concerned friends and family back home and is obviously in regular contact with his parents.
“My sister was here for five months just after October 7 and I think it was much worse then than it is now so my parents have been through it before,” he said. “They’ve just told me to stay safe but I know they’re worried about me. I think they have faith that I’m going to be responsible and full faith that Israel knows how to keep us safe.”
Jude, 18, is also on the Aardvark scheme and has been in Israel for about two months. The keen musician from London told the JC about his experience of Iran first striking back against Israel on Saturday morning.
“I was woken up to the first siren and it was quite a shocking situation,” he said. “However once I was with people in the shelter it’s became a lot calmer. There’s much less to worry about as I do the best I can in the circumstance.”
He has rapidly adjust to the circumstances to adopt a new routine, he says: “Usually my friends and I are in the shelter playing guitar or just listening to music which actually makes being in the shelter moderately fun.”
He said his family are worried but are trusting him to follow the official guidance in order to stay safe.
“Due to the Iron Dome and Israel’s strong defences I don’t feel a need to go home unless the war severely escalates,” he said.
