Society for Technical Communication—Israel Chapter

As I was working on this Spring 2002 update for our STC Israel website I was interrupted by a phone call... there had been a terrorist attack at a restaurant in Haifa. The restauraunt is owned by a well-known Arab family and was filled with many people from different backgrounds. All they had in common was the desire to be out and enjoy a meal with friends during this holiday week of Passover and Easter.

Technical communication seems far from me as I turn off the TV and dry my eyes. I have called the people I know who might have been in the area—Haifa is my home—and they are all safe. But too many people whom I do not know are not safe and I can only grieve for unknown people who have touched my heart.

The weather is windy, cold and rainy... and I catch myself thinking... its the weather of war. Terrorism knows no boundaries and is not selective of its victims. The wounded go uncounted. How do you count the people who are afraid to travel, visit friends, go out for a cup of coffee? How do you count those who think twice before they go shopping or take their children to school? How do we protect ourselves from the unknown? Will cross-cultural friendships be torn about as peopel take sides?

Each person will find their own way through these days. My deep-rooted faith keeps me strong. Others will seek out friends and family, or bury themselves in work. Some will seek other venues of release, reading, writing, TV... We will all grieve and we will all go on... this is part of living in Israel.

Others cannot escape. Our webmaster, Neil was called up for army duty last week, as was the brother of a friend...

This is part of our lives as technical communicators in Israel. And I think I speak for most of us, when I reaffirm publicly, Israel is my home. After 20 years here, I have no regrets that I came here, only deep sorrow that peace, shalom, seems so far from us. Israel is my home, and here I will grieve, and here I will live.

I also think I speak for all my other colleagues when I say, that if you personally have been touched by what is happening now, if you have lost a loved one, or someone has been wouned, I and others share in your grief.

As you view this Spring update of our website, know that we live and we grieve.

Debbie Shapiro
Editor, STC Israel Website