Missiles vs. Corona / By Segev Lifshitz 15/8/2020

Many people know how the Corona Pandemic is affecting everyone but relatively few know what it really feels like to live also under the threat of missiles near the Gaza strip. I checked this out with Lilach, secretary of "Shikma" high school and Bar, 4th grade student at "Hofim" elementary school, talking about these two situations and perspectives.

How was your job/school effected by the "missile period" and where did you get your strengths to deal with the situation?

Lilach: "My work was affected in a short-term and specific effect. From my knowledge, I knew that it was probably a period of a few days at most before the situation would return to normal. The situation was "familiar", "known" and in control, because of the military forces."

"The feelings were hard, but at the same time I was expecting the missiles to end, so I hoped for something good to happen."

Bar: "A scary period, days I stayed at home because of the risk of rockets reaching the schools or buses that drive straight to school and back home. Also, the sounds that come from the rockets scare my family because they can reach us."

Lilach: "During the missile period I took strength from my environment, from work, friends nearby and of course from family who live in the center of the country, who would host us during long missile periods.

Bar: "I took strength from my family who always tell me that everything will be ok as long as I go to a shelter."

Lilach Shushan, Shikma Darca Highscool Secretary

I asked the same questions about the Corona period:

How was work being a secretary/student influenced during the Corona period and where did you get your strength to deal with the situation?

Lilach: "During the first Corona period there was a time when I did not work, during the closure, it was a challenging period of total uncertainty. I kept in touch almost daily with the teaching staff and the school. and that's how I took strength from the "together-ness".

"The difference here is that there is no expectation of the end of the period, there is uncertainty, economic and social instability."

Bar: "I was supposed to put masks on at first; it is an unenjoyable period, many times that I had to stay at home without meeting friends or families ,I took my strength from my family who helped me to get over some tough times; we were in our private pool and talked with my grandparents on "Zoom" video call.

An empty street in Moshave Biet Hashikma during Covid-19 Lockdown

The interviews show a sad reality - both situations are bad, the difference might be that when we feel united against an external danger; it is more reassuring than when we feel physically separated when confronting an external danger.

The corona period is a new period that the world has not experienced before, a period of insecurity and uncertainty, unknown when it will end. On the other hand, sadly, during the missile period, the residents of the south of the country are very accustomed to such situations, and they do know how to prepare and live with them- usually a few days.

When Corona ends I will return to interview Lilach and Bar again with a difficult question: Pool Vs Beach? Chocolate Vs Ice Cream?