Warfare rattles plans, but parents trust their son to his Israeli hosts

by Ron Kaplan
NJJN Staff Writer

Sidebar: Letter from Safed

At what point do you determine that it’s not safe enough and get the kids home?” asked Jeffrey Perlman of East Brunswick, whose son is on a teen tour of Israel. “How do you make that decision? Things could turn ugly within an hour, and it might be too late, so this is a guessing game.”

Itineraries are shifting dramatically, particularly for tourists and students originally scheduled to be traveling in Israel’s north.

But one week into the escalating conflict between Israel and Hizbullah fighters in Lebanon, many local parents like Perlman are guessing that trip organizers understand the risks, and are deciding to let their children stay in the country.

The Jewish Agency for Israel is coordinating security measures for teen trips and said few parents have shown an interest in canceling or bringing children on such trips home.

Agency spokesman Michael Jankelowitz said many groups have chosen to head south to the Negev and Eilat. He estimated there are about 10,000 Jewish kids from abroad in Israel on summer trips, 6,000 of them American.

But, he said, the majority of these students will be heading home soon, as peak trip season draws to a close in early July.

Greg Perlman, 14, is part of a group of 40 American kids participating in Journey, a three-week trip sponsored by the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.

“The original itinerary was to travel around and do a lot in the north, but they’ve canceled everything up there and are keeping [the kids] south, in Jerusalem now,” said his father.

Greg “calls every day. Everything is nice and quiet there, where he is. They’re running their programs. The kids took their trip to Masada and the Dead Sea and they went on an archeological dig…. They’re doing everything — just in the south.”

The teens seem unconcerned by the upheaval, said Perlman. “They know what’s going on and they’re kept well-informed. But all the kids want to stay.”

Like most parents, however, Perlman and his wife, Ryselle, are probably more worried than their children.

In an effort to alleviate parents’ concerns, BBYO sends daily e-mail updates. In a July 16 message, BBYO executive director Matthew Grossman wrote, “We are confident our programs can go forward…with the modifications that are already in place. As I am sure you are hearing from your teens, the experience continues to be a positive one for the participants.

“Of course, we are still monitoring the news closely, and I can assure you that we are prepared to take smart and responsible decisions depending on the prevailing conditions.

So far a dozen teens have returned to the United States, he said.

“I want to thank you for your continued patience through this anxious time,” Grossman’s message concludes.

Despite such assurances, Perlman realizes that calm can turn to calamity in a flash.

“We have big concerns, obviously, but we found out it would take three to five days at this point to arrange for the flights,” he said; Greg is scheduled to return July 30. “We’ve pretty much decided that it’s probably safest to leave him there in the group” for the duration of the trip.

The Perlmans’ three daughters — Lana, Cheryl, and Alyssa — have taken similar teen trips; Lana and Cheryl both had bat mitzva ceremonies on Masada during a large-scale family visit in 1995.

Greg had planned on spending the weekend of July 22 with family members in Safed, one of the Israeli towns in the north that has been hit by missiles. The visit was canceled. “They’re sitting in the shelters,” said Perlman of his wife’s cousins in the ancient town. “A lot of windows have been blown out of their apartment,” said Perlman. Nevertheless, he noted, “it’s strange. The Israelis live with this; they don’t panic so fast. They go down in the shelters and wait it out. It’s a strange calmness.”

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Letter from Safed

RYSELLE PERLMAN received the following account from her cousin — reprinted in its entirety — on the missile attacks on Safed. The family requested his name not be printed.

Rysie, we are all ok. The big kids are in camp out of Safed, the little kids have a program most of the day. I am trying to do some work. Here is a report I have been sharing with friends.

85 missiles to Safed in 5 days, 15 near my home and another 10 near Ascent [where he works]. Thank G-d, most fall in empty spaces and many do not explode because they have not been serviced and in storage for years. One slammed into our next door neighbor’s basement that thank G-d did not explode, one to the top floor of the building next door to my newly married daughter’s apartment, that also did not explode, and the one that exploded was in our back yard. Besides totally freaking out my 20 year old and my 4 year old, all it did was break 15 double glass windows, fill the house with smoke and glass, and leave shrapnel holes up the western side of our building. Katyushas fell 100 feet in every direction of Ascent. I am thankful to be alive.

Most of the people who run institutions are staying. No one discussed it but there is a definite feeling that someone has to stay. We are soldiers in Hashem’s army. Where else where would I want to be but on the front where G-d put me? The city is 80% empty. Even though I am happy to be here…, it is hard to concentrate. The barrages come in groups. Once you hear one boom, you wait to hear the others, if they are getting closer or farther. Sometimes there are sirens and then we go to the “safe room.” But there is rarely an all-clear siren and sometimes you just wait there in a hot and stuffy little room. On the other hand, I was caught downstairs during a barrage yesterday. It paralyzed me for a few seconds but then my wife starts screaming…Get up here to the safe room. We have to listen to our wives sometimes.

Latest news, hospital in Safed near hit, many windows broken. Gush Chalav, a nearby Arab town, took 8 missiles, no word yet on casualties.

No need to call; we really are fine.

Only blessings.