18.12.2023 – MONDAY. War Day 73 @ SWORDS OF IRON.

Uriah, from Maalot, North Israel, died from the brain injuries. A Martyr and a hero. Thank God that He took him to Himself to His safe home.

E.E. is healed miraculously from the brain injuries. Out of the coma, he explained, "I was first to arrive beside the explosive, it is a miracle I am not dead". Early this morning, we saw a picture of him sitting in the hospital bed surrounded by his parents, his army unit, and friends. Thank God.

For us, who stay on the home front, these are the safe places that we can access during the war.

Migunit

Migunit = mobile shelter.

Mamad = residential secure space.

Miklat = Protected Space.

When you visit us, these are the places to go to during a siren:

Migunit – is a public shelter that is rather a new invention. It can be moved from place to place by a crane. Multiple ones appeared around town like mushrooms. The municipality built these to the specifications of the home-front command in very public areas such as the beach boardwalk.

Mamad – is a room inside one's dwelling. It was built specifically with thick concrete walls and its window is made of iron and opened to the south. In the newer buildings that room is often used during peace times, as a regular room with some extra items for emergencies such as water bottles.

Miklat – can be public or private. The public ones are located underground in parks and other public places and they have a walk-in entry with a sign of its function. The municipality is responsible for its upkeep. These are locked unless the country is at war.

The ones in a condo building are considered private
and the neighbours are responsible for keeping it updated and clean. It is usually located under the building. Once the local government looked at the public “miklatim” they started to look at the ones under the old buildings.

October's main space

windows in October

Our apartment/condo was built in 1972. We have 4 entries with 8 flats each and under each, we have a protected space. Our Miklat was used as a private holding space by one person during the years of peace. The rest of us had to insist on her clearing it out so that all of us could use it during sirens. Uphill battle. We did our best to stay out of the courts.

The pictures I took at the beginning of the war, on the first siren, showed the very messy, infested with germs, and damp space. No real escape routes, no electricity and no water. We felt as if we soon choked from the musty smell.

We wrote and phoned and complained to the local municipality. They came back, and rightly so, explaining that this Miklat is our responsibility. We asked for help: 8 flats above this underground space, 2 to a level. 3 flats with over 80-year-old widows, 1 with babies under 2, 3 with new Olim that are refugees of the Ukrainian war, and us. None have funds to speak of nor the physical ability to do anything there. In the offices, they heard and listened to us and they started to fix. God bless them.

miklat's escape windows

Last night, I went down the 80 or so stairs from our apartment to the Miklat, twice. It is still not usable yet, but an electrician is working down there changing the lights from neon lights to L.E.D. which are healthier and last longer. The electrical company turned on the electricity and the city hall turned on the water and changed the toilet fixtures. I saw that the floor was covered with new tiles and that most junk was cleaned out. I don't know if the shower fixtures work, but they are there. An emergency light will be placed there as well. The windows were opened, sets of steps were attached to them and the musty smell was gone. It should be usable once we clean it and make sure that the pest control specialist spray the area.

What came to mind when I saw all that work and realized that the local municipality paid for it, was that they are expecting a long-term war. They are making sure we have the best available safe place in our building. 

Miklat Entry

We are being looked after. God is with us and so is His favor. May His peace return before we need to use this safe space again.