Newswise — On this, eleven day of the Katyusha assaults on Northern Israel, here are some updates and stories from the University of Haifa- the city which was one of the main targets of the Hezbollah.
Return to Work
The University Administration has completed the preparations for the planned return to work of the Faculty and Administrative staff on Sunday. All the bomb shelters and secure areas are ready and the guidelines for emergency situation have been reviewed.
The decision to return to work was taken in coordination with the Authorities and with the intention of keeping as close to the daily routine as possible. The university is closes since the beginning of the week, from the first attack on the city. The alarm sirens caught students in the middle of their exams. Employees and students- Jews and Arabs ran to the bomb shelters and set there together for hours. The University of Haifa is a microcosm to the Israeli society- Jews, Arabs, Druze and new immigrants are teaching and learning together in co-existence.
International Support
Many letters and telephone calls of support, from friends of the University, have been received by the University of Haifa's Department of External Relations this week. Friends from all over the world have been sending their messages of solidarity and support for Israel, the University, the Students and the Faculty. Outstanding, with a message of support, was the interview given by the Former Foreign Minister of Germany and Honorary Doctorate recipient, Joschka Fischer, to the leading German Publication, Die Zeit. The following is a translation, kindly forwarded to us by Professor Manfred Lahnstein, Our Chairman of the Board: DIE ZEIT: Mr. Fischer, what do you feel when you see the pictures of missile hits, the dead and the wounded in Haifa?JOSCHKA FISCHER: These are horrible impressions, especially for me as an Honorary Doctor of the University of Haifa. My first and immediate reaction: Solidarity with the people of Haifa.
Faces of the University in the Shadow of Rocket Attacks
Liz Arviv
Liz is a twenty four year old student, at the University of Haifa, studying towards her Bachelor's of Arts in Social Work. She has always dreamed of becoming a Social Worker and finds that helping a person in need just seems to come naturally to her. During the first round of sirens, heard all over the Northern town of Haifa on Sunday, Liz was in the Student Dormitories together with two students from overseas. She was there to meet them and to offer a friendly welcome on behalf of the Students at the University.
When she heard the sirens go off she showed the overseas students where the bomb shelter was and tried to keep them calm during the ear shattering noises. While sitting in the bomb shelter she helped keep the students calm and explained that this kind of unbelievable event was something that many Israelis were familiar with.
The Overseas Students found it very difficult to cope with the present reality. One student flew to Greece at the request of her family. The other student refused to leave the Country and headed down south to Jerusalem with the rest of the Overseas Studies Students and faculty. In Jerusalem the students were well cared for and even started back at their studies while waiting for things to calm down in the North.
Liz and her mother decided to leave Haifa and head to Rishon Le Zion " the sound of falling bombs and the uncertainty of where they would fall in the City was getting to be too much for the family to bear. Liz also found that being closed up in a secure place, despite her Social Work training, was getting to be impossible.
Liz has two more exams to complete but when she will be able to take them is unknown. She also feels that studying for exams, under these conditions, is impossible.
Sarel Aiber
Sarel, twenty nine, plans to finish his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology this year, at the University of Haifa. This is the second Degree for this talented young Student " in 1998, Sarel completed, with honors, a Degree in Computer Science.
The first alarm caught Sarel studying at home, in preparation for the exam he was supposed to take that very day. Unfortunately, Sarel does not live in an area that has a bomb shelter, or sheltered space, so he was forced to travel to a friend that had a secure space and spend the days to come with him.
During the loud sirens, Sarel, like so many others, feels anxious and upset but soon after, when quiet returns to the streets, he feels much better. Needless to say that he cannot study or concentrate on anything for more than a few moments out of fear that the next siren will be heard and he will once again have to take cover.
Sarel's mother, who lives in Benyamina, has been asking him to come home and stay with the family but Sarel is adamant to stay in Haifa. He feels that it would be wrong for him to leave the City but concedes that if others feel safer out of the heavy shelling then they should leave as soon as they can.
Sarel was hoping to finish off his last exam and get on with his summer " his plans, however, have changed and for now he will be satisfied if there were just some peace and quiet.
Rana Shehab
Rana is an Arab Student at the University of Haifa and is presently completing her Thesis in the framework of Masters Studies in Clinical Educational Psychology. She lives in Nazareth, with her family, although she studies full time, she works as an Academic Counselor to Arab students in the Dean's Office. In the framework of this project, among other things, she prepares Arab students for studies at the University. She shares with them of her experiences at the University of Haifa. This year there are already 15 students signed up, but sadly, the program has been frozen due to the current security situation.
At the first siren, heard throughout Haifa, Rana was on her way to the University from her home in Nazareth. During the summer, Rana, uses the Library facilities to find material for her research as well as taking end of semester exams with her fellow students. The University is full of students during the semester break and everyone is busy finishing off class obligations. Yesterday a tragedy fell upon Nazareth and two young boys, while playing outside their home, were killed when a rocket attack hit the City. Rana, along with all the members of her town were deeply distressed at this terrible loss.
This distress is even move acute with the knowledge that the rocket fell in the middle of town next to her family home. Rana feels that her security and the safety of her family are in jeopardy as there are no early warning sirens or bomb shelters in Nazareth.
Rana indicated she has mixed feelings about the war in the North because she has friends and family in Lebanon and she misses the feeling of security she once had. She hopes that the situation, on the Northern Border, will be resolved soon and things will return to normal. Rana longs for the piece of mind that will allow her to apply herself to her Thesis and achieve excellent results in her exams.
Evana Chirandon
Evana, 20, is a recent immigrant to Israel from Argentina and made 'Aliyah' just two and a half years ago. She is already enrolled in the Political Science Department at the University of Haifa and is in her first year of her Bachelor's Degree. It was her dream to come to Israel and study for a degree in the Country that she feels is her homeland.
Evana has never experienced first hand the fright of the sirens announcing falling bombs but last week, she, along with all her classmates, found themselves on the way to the bomb shelter. Her boyfriend, a student at the Technion and also a new immigrant was equally as frightened. The couple is in Israel without their parents and the task of taking care of themselves in these times is very difficult.
Evana's family has been trying to get their daughter to return home to Argentina until the security situation calms down but Evan won't budge. Evana and her boyfriend have been staying with relatives in Rehovot and are eagerly waiting for the all clear sign so that they will be able to return home to Haifa.
This is Evana's first experience with 'war' and she is very scared " she says that her Israeli friends have been explaining all the news to her and this helps her understand just what is going on. She believes that part of being a good Israeli citizen is to stay and tough it out no matter how scary it gets.
Evana came to Israel to build her life, to study, to create a family and to be 'Israeli' " having experienced this security situation there is no doubt that she has done just that.
Dr. Avi Bacher, Pediatrician and completing Stage Director Studies at the Faculty of Theatre.
On Sunday, Dr. Bachar, was at work at the Institute for Childhood Development in Haifa. "We went down to the bomb shelter, there was an atmosphere of uncertainty about what was happening and how long it would continue. At a certain stage I left the bomb shelter because I was worried about the safety of my parents, who live in the City and the safety of my elderly grandmother who lives alone", said Dr. Bacher.
The next day, Dr. Bacher returned to the clinic to find that paper work had piled up because of the sudden break in routine in light of the bomb attacks. There were also many parents that visited the Clinic with their young children and the Doctor patiently treated them all. Many were very worried about the situation and shared of their plans to leave the City to be with family down South.
Although Dr. Bacher lives in Zichron Yackov, he spends the weekdays with his family in Haifa to save the commute. He chose to stay in the City and while down in the bomb shelter found time to work on the theatrical production" "The Horses Story", that will be part of an Arabic Language theatre festival being held in Old Acre at the start of August.
"The show must go on" says the Doctor. The main role is played by an Arab Actor and he, along with the other actors, stage hands and Director insist on holding rehearsals despite the security threat. Although they do not know how long the situation will last they are all devoted to getting on with it and pushing forward. A Jewish Director, Arab actors and rehearsals being held down town in the bomb shelter are just part of the Israel's current reality.
Marianela Kosta
Marianela is a twenty one year old student of Mathematics, presently in her first year at the University of Haifa. Although Mathematics are often thought to be a 'man's game, Marianela is just one of the growing number of women choosing a career in Mathematics.
During the first siren, heard in Haifa on Sunday, Marianela was at her home in Haifa " the sounds of falling rockets and sirens were so loud that she was sure that it was her apartment that had been hit. Luckily, this time, it was not in her neighborhood. Marianela's parents were very worried about her staying in the City and convinced her to stay with them in Ra'anana, towards the center of Israel.
Marianela's boyfriend, also a student at the University of Haifa, was called up for emergency Reserve Military Duty and left Haifa promptly for the front. The couple barely had time to talk about their separation and Marianela is naturally very worried for his safety. Emergency Reserve Duty call-up is a sign that the situation is serious and this kind of army service is reserved for the most critical of times.
Marianela is worried that because the situation is so serious she has been unable to work and for her, concentration on her studies is impossible. She is optimistic that the situation will quiet down in time for her to do some real studying before returning to finish off her last exams.
Avishai Greshoni
Avishai is a twenty-seven year old student in his first year at the School of Political Science, at the University of Haifa. Avishai lives in the Northern border town of Nahariya, which was one of the first areas to be stricken by the onslaught of rockets that have landed in Israel. His City has become a virtual ghost town with most of the residence sitting in the bomb shelters or having left town for safer place further down south.
Avishai is a volunteer police person and finds that work within his own community is highly rewarding. He has been volunteering for twelve years now and has learned much about social responsibility and community by doing this service. Avishai has maintained his academic work and keeps it as a priority but still finds time to do volunteer service.
During these uncertain days Avishai is pulling twelve hour shifts with the Police Department " wearing a helmet and bullet proof jacket he makes his rounds in the City, appearing on the scene after a bomb has fallen and helping in the search and rescue. There are many citizens that remain shell shocked after witnessing the rockets falling and they are a special consideration for Avishai.
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