Passover, with its highly detailed laws and regulations, is the very definition of order. The 14 steps of the Seder lay out the precise manner in which the Seder should be observed. However, this Passover season was the antithesis of structure and organization.
Over the past weeks, missiles from Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon have been directed at all sections of the country, at all times of the day and night, with little predictability. The daily grind has taken its toll on Israelis, who have become wary – and weary – of the projectiles directed at them from above.
The following are six suggestions for dealing with the security situation in a way that may help alleviate stress.
Be adaptable to change
Some of our tried and trusted routines may not work in the current setting. Synagogues are limited in the number of people who can gather, so our street – shades of COVID – has revived the street minyan of 2020-2022. Being outside with friends and neighbors has been a balm.
Keep active, but carefully
Physical exercise is an excellent outlet for stress, and walking outside, especially in these spring days, can improve our attitude. However, with that in mind, plan your route so that you are near residential areas, where you can quickly find a shelter or safe room.
Carry your phone with you at all times
Carrying a smartphone may seem counterintuitive for reducing stress, but knowing when there is a missile alert can be crucial to one’s well-being.
Case in point: On the Shabbat afternoon before Passover, I was walking home from an outdoor lunch and did not have my phone with me. I heard sirens from a nearby base, which meant the main sirens would soon follow. I had to sprint the last hundred meters to reach our house and the mamad (safe room) in time.
Turn off your phone before you go to sleep
This recommendation applies only if you have a mamad or shelter in your home and the siren can be clearly heard near your home. In the early days of the war, I left my phone next to my bed and was woken every time an alert sounded, which, on numerous occasions, did not turn into a full-blown siren, leaving me bleary-eyed the next morning. The siren is painfully loud outside our home, and our mamad is down one flight of stairs, so we did not need to be woken by an alert in the middle of the night.
However, those whose shelter is not close by should leave their phones on at all times.
Keep a diary of events
Some may consider these days forgettable, but in truth we are living in historic times. Writing down the details of daily occurrences can lessen stress and be a meaningful family record for future generations.
Connect with friends and with your partner
Trauma creates feelings of disconnection, but connection and talking about your feelings can be healing.
Limit exposure to news and social media
Read a good book or watch a TV show instead (though the third season of Tehran felt like an ironic choice).
Meditation, yoga breathing
These are worthwhile, even if you get interrupted by an alert.
Recognize that it’s OK to not be OK
Acknowledge your emotions of sadness, grief, lack of control, or otherwise. In these abnormal times, feeling stressed is normal.