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As Israel faces its second war with Iran in eight months, sirens alerting people to incoming Iranian ballistic missiles and drones have become a familiar sound. At that moment, Israelis head to bomb shelters for safety.
However, the shelters also offer something unexpected. Beyond providing refuge, they are bringing people together. These safe spaces have fostered a sense of community, The Times of Israel reports.
Bringing People Together
In North Tel Aviv, after sirens sounded, adults, children, and dogs started to fill an underground shelter. While people arrived seeking safety, many found themselves part of a spontaneous community. People from different countries gathered there, bringing a variety of food while hoping for a quiet night.
Roberto Sciunnach, a father of a two-year-old boy and a six-month-old baby girl, brought a bag full of games to make the situation feel as normal as possible. “For my son, this is just a game, a party. If you ask him what he’s doing there, he’s sure it’s a pajama party,” Sciunnach tells The Times of Israel.
For others, war has also led to making new friends. Nearby, two women sat together in lawn chairs — Nelly and Elyane. Both are from Belgium but didn’t know each other before the previous Iran war. “I met this wonderful neighbor in June,” Nelly said, pointing to Elyane. Then, they exclaimed in unison: “Now we meet again!”
As the evening continued, children drew pictures on the floor while families ate together, turning the shelter into a temporary living space for the community.
A Site of Celebration
According to The Jerusalem Post, shelters have become more than just spaces of safety and simple gatherings. One shelter in Jaffa transformed into an accidental venue for a bar mitzvah when worshipers from the synagogue across the street took refuge there.
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In an underground parking lot which turned into a shelter in central Tel Aviv, music and celebrations erupted. Shabbat prayers gave way to dancing and songs such as “Don’t Be Afraid, Oh Israel” and “Am Yisrael Chai.” Another bomb shelter in the city became a makeshift nightclub with red lights, a DJ, and people dancing.
Across Israel, shelters are becoming more than places of protection. They are gathering spaces and reminders of how community can emerge even in uncertain moments, bringing comfort and connection to those taking shelter underground.
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