are there rockets in san francisco?

When I first made aliya about 12 years ago I started keeping an “America List.”

This was a long shopping list of everything from tortilla chips to Coast soap. Things that i couldn’t find or were very expensive to buy in Israel. Over the years the list has changed considerably and gotten much shorter. Today it includes Kansas City BBQ sauce, Bacos and Swiss Miss. And, of course, gifts for the kids.

Whenever I travel Micah and Gabi give me their list of things they want from America. Creating and fine tuning this list is usually the exclusive focus of our conversations leading up to a trip. I’m writing this from San Francisco (I’m here for the RAVSAK conference for Jewish community day schools).

But this time there was another topic of discussion. The kids wanted to know where I was going. I explained that I was going to be in San Francisco – in America. A few minutes later they asked if there are rockets in San Francisco.

I’m pained that this is so on their minds. Sad that they need to ask. Sad at what we are doing to our children – in Israel and Gaza- who are in danger from Hamas rockets and from Israeli fire. I share in Bradley Burston’s Prayer for the Children of Gaza.

So I assured Micah and Gabi that there are no rockets in San Francisco and that I would be perfectly safe. I reassured them that they are perfectly safe and far away from any rockets at home at Kibbutz Gezer.

A few minutes later they gave me their lists: clothes for Barbie dolls, and Disney cast iron cars from the movie “Cars.”

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