Hello, My Name Is Marina Zasalesky,originally from the Ukraine and living in Israel for 16 years.  I have two sons, Edi, 23, and Yuri aged 16.  I live in Migdal HaEmek and work as a bookkeeper at Tower Semiconductor.  During these difficult days I'm going through some tough experiences I'd never dreamed of.

I've never been through any wars; I only heard stories from my father who was a soldier for seven years in the Red Army during World War II.  Until now I hadn't attributed much significance to these stories, but today, suddenly, when I am living through this and have a son who is a wartime soldier, they take on a different meaning.

Since turning 18, Edi would not hear of any other type of army service other than being a combat soldier.  All my pleas that he serve "quiet" duty in army intelligence were in vain.  He said that for three years out of his life he wanted to serve meaningful army service.  Although having some health problems, he still found the way to obtain the necessary approval for being accepted as a combat soldier.  During his mandatory army service he made a lot of close friends; his best buddies were from the army.  Together they went through some trying times, serving in Gaza and the territories.  During all that time, I would worry, breathlessly, between phone calls.
 
After the army, Edi was accepted to study law and economics at Haifa University, and today he is an honors student in his second year of studies.  This summer he was planning to spend time in Germany and Austria, but with the outbreak of the war he cancelled everything so as to remain available in the event he'd receive IDF Order 8 (a call-up for army service).  One week into the war, when Edi noticed he hadn't been approached, he called the army at his own initiative and asked why he hadn't been called up.  Within hours he received a phone call telling him to report for service-good news for him, but for me an unbearable message; it was a message that evoked other thoughts: Had I sinned against my sons by bringing them to a small country constantly fighting for its existence?  At that time, and on other occasions, I could have joined up with relatives who had moved to Cleveland.  Over there, daily concerns involve only business, sports, and the weather-the good life, as it should be, and I want that.  I shared my thoughts with my sons and apologized that I had brought them to Israel. 

Their reaction was that I could go anywhere I wanted to, but that their place was here.  There is no other country for them.  "We love you so much Mom, but we won't leave this country", my son said, "In the army I was educated to be with my friends and guard over their wellbeing with my body."  My younger son, Yuri, is also determined to be a combat soldier, "nothing else", he said, and what about me ? Who will look after me?  Edi studied at the Reali School in Haifa, where many of its graduates had been pilots who had fallen in Israel's wars.  Each year they have an impressive and distinguished memorial ceremony and to this day Edi participates in these ceremonies at school.  This atmosphere has influenced Edi to be loyal to his country.

With a high sense of morale, Edi went to Lebanon without giving it a second thought.  For four days he didn't call and I was worried.  When he did phone me, he was feeling content and satisfied that he'd done his part for the military effort.  Today I heard from Edi's friends that he had received a short leave; instead of coming home to visit his family or eat his mother's food that he loves so much, Edi chose to go visit his wounded buddies at Rambam Hospital in Haifa.  His friends told me that.  Edi never mentioned a word to me that there were wounded soldiers from his battalion following action in Lebanon. 

My father always told me he didn't want to die before seeing Edi become a truly splendid individual.  He never lived to see it, but I know if would be alive today he'd be proud of Edi.

I don't display any worry in my conversations with Edi; I play the brave mother and talk with him about this and that-as if there wasn't any war in the background.  But the truth is I'm very worried.  At night I'm glued to the television, and to the Internet day and night.  I miss my son and I miss normal life.  Today I appreciate the tranquil life we had before the war.  I miss the little concerns we had, like Edi's grades in tests. 

We have a wonderful social life here and we've made many Israeli friends who we spend happy times with.  We're in touch every day.  These days everyone calls me and asks how we are.  Everyone has their fingers crossed.  This particular kind of support and warm relationship is found only among Israelis.

Let's hope the war finishes peacefully.  For the sake of peace we all fight-some on the front and some on the home front.  Together we will win.  Peace on Israel, amen.