TEL AVIV, Israel – Uriel Peizer graduated from Central Washington University in 2022 and moved to Israel to pursue his Master’s degree. After getting his Master’s in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Haifa University, Peizer is now working as an intern at a Jewish newspaper while living in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Life in a war zone
Peizer recalls October 7, the morning he woke up to sounds of missiles blasting over his home.
“Four blocks away from my building there was a missile that hit and the entire top half of the building was completely destroyed,” said Peizer. “At the time I woke up we didn’t have a bomb shelter. We were hiding in the stairs and we could hear the ground shaking beneath us and the walls trembling.”
Now Peizer lives his day to day life ready to drop everything and take shelter when sirens sound.
Peizer said, “Just going to the shower can be very complicated because you might not be able to hear the sirens and you might not have enough time to get into a safe room for protection.”
According to Peizer, in Tel Aviv citizens have less than 90 seconds to take shelter once they hear sirens. Peizer said that doesn’t even compare to his friends in South Israel, where people only have five seconds to run into a safe room when they hear the alarm.
Peizer explains his experience flocking to a safe room.
“We go inside and its a double door, It’s about an inch and a half thick with metal.”
According to Peizer, not every family is lucky enough to have access to a bomb shelter and instead have to opt for what he calls a riskier option.
“Other people who are in buildings that are a bit older from the 50s and 60s, they hide in staircases.”
Taking action
Through the fear and chaos in Israel, Peizer said he has been inspired to do anything he can to help his Jewish community. Now, he’s raising money to send Israeli troops care packages.
“I didn’t want to see my people suffer and not be able to do something in return,” said Peizer. “I felt I had to do this.”
What started as raising money on his own, quickly turned into a community effort after Peizer fundraised $5,000 in just 48 hours.
“I spend close to 16 hours a day working and getting supplies into boxes and having them sent to military bases across the country.”
Peizer said that he contacts Israeli bases, or IDF bases, and they give them a list of what they need. Volunteers help pack the boxes with essential supplies and thank you cards before loading them into trucks to be delivered.
“We have been working collectively as a Jewish community in all parts of Israel to send our troops care packages,” said Peizer.
Peizer feels a special obligation to protect his homeland, especially coming from grandparents and great grandparents that are Holocaust survivors.
“As of now, my family members abroad are unable to return and it is very hard to get a flight in or out of the country,” said Peizer.
He says you can never know what to expect when your country is a war zone, so he hopes his simple acts of kindness can help spark hope.
“I’m hoping that everyone is praying for us and we are all praying for peace,” said Peizer. “No one wants this war to happen, no one wants innocent civilians to die.”
Uriel says those interested in donating towards the care packages for IDF soldiers can donate here.
