" I’ll make up some kind of illness, just so that the boys don’t have to serve combat duty."
Daphne
Location: Circus Florentin, Kfar HaYarok
Residence: Ramat HaSharon
Age: 40
The encounter: Daphne and I were both waiting for our children, who are enrolled in a class in the circus school. She was sitting across from me outside the circus tent when I approached her.
What are you doing here right now?
My son has a circus class here. I'm just enjoying the afternoon and relaxing a bit.
What is your occupation?
I’m a Clinical Studies Coordinator.
Can you tell me a bit about your family?
Both my parents were born in Israel. My mom's parents are from Poland. They came here just before the Second World War. My dad's father was from Russia. His mom was from Turkey. She arrived here when she was 3 years old, in 1924. My parents were academics, so as a child I spent a few years on sabbaticals in the US. I resisted it. I couldn't get used to the American mentality: the detachment, the lack of community... Afterwards, my husband and I spent two years in the US again, in Boston, for studies. That time, I fit in better with American culture: I worked and focused on myself and my career.
What are your hopes and expectations for the future of this land?
Oy, I try not to think about it. I'm generally an optimistic person, but I'm pessimistic now.
I’m in terrible fear, because of my two boys. I’m very worried about them having to serve in the army. Sometimes I tell my husband: I’ll just lie.. I’ll make up some kind of illness, just so that the boys don’t have to serve combat duty. When they’re 18, when they get drafted, they don’t understand anything. They’re just children. It’s not worth dying for this. It’s a disaster, in my opinion. If I had just girls it would be different. I already worry about it. As things stand now, it doesn’t look as if the peace process is moving at all. It’s not easy. I wish there would be some concessions – I mean, on our part! The occup.., the Palest.., the territories across the green line are a problem. I’m glad we’re out of Gaza now. It’s true that they attacked us this summer, and of course we had a right to defend ourselves. But on the other hand, we’ve simply imprisoned them there.
I love Israel very much, but I won’t lie... sometimes I have thoughts... I wonder if it’s easier elsewhere. But to actually decide to leave your country, you need some extreme situation that pushes you in a corner. Like the refugees from Syria. That’s not the case for us. Our life here is all right. We have no real reason to leave right now.