Two Israeli fathers from Montreal are trying to maintain good morale despite the unpredictability and atrocities caused by the week-long war against Hamas.
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“On the one hand, we are trying to digest the stories that emerge from the first attacks, but on the other hand, we do not know what the future holds for us. We were dragged into a war we didn’t want,” Noah Joseph said in an interview with the Journal.
The 42-year-old man, who lives in Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, has been on alert since the intense Hamas attacks began on October 7.
“Is this going to last for weeks? Months? Especially not years. We have no idea,” said Mr. Joseph, who has lived there for almost 20 years and still maintains ties with his family in Quebec.
Israelis can also be directly or indirectly affected by Hamas attacks. A colleague and friend of Noah Joseph also lost his father in an attack.
Difficult week
At the moment, the Montreal native believes he is well protected, pointing to a slightly increased police presence, for example.
“We haven’t really heard rocket sirens in the last few days, we can see people going to the park with their children on the weekend,” he reassures.
Noah Joseph is originally from Montreal. His family still lives in the metropolis. Photo provided by Noah Joseph
A similar mindset appears to prevail in Modiin, which lies between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, says Patrick Amar.
The person who has lived in Israel for several years wants to remain optimistic, even if the last few days have been particularly emotional.
“It was a difficult week. We’re all at home, he says. We have no attacks on the city, but you can feel it because there are a lot of people in the army.”
Touchy topic
Noah Joseph and Patrick Amar, who have two and five children respectively, also have the delicate task of broaching the subject of war with their heirs.
“They understand that the situation is potentially dangerous as schools are closed and we are staying at home. They know that there is a possibility that they will have to run to a shelter,” says Mr. Joseph.
However, at seven and four years old, they are “too young to really understand the situation, so we don’t want to scare them unnecessarily,” he adds.
Patrick Amar, originally from Montreal. Photo from Patrick Amar’s Facebook
For his part, Patrick Amar argues that his children, who are between ten and sixteen years old, can be exposed to the sometimes disturbing content that circulates on social networks.
“The children feel that we are in a war, that we have been attacked, that we are not in such an easy situation and that Israel and especially the soldiers are very proud,” says the guide. old tourist. It’s a difficult part.”