A Nashville rabbi describes messages from a family in a bomb shelter in Israel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – Rabbi Saul Strosberg is doing what he can.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said Iran had fired missiles and ordered residents to stay near bomb shelters as air raid sirens blared across the country. Strosberg’s family heeded this warning and contacted him while he was hiding at the facility. His brother and sister live in Israel.

“We have a very, very close relationship, but we limit ourselves to sending a short message – in the afternoon or a video in the evening,” Strosberg said. “They need to listen to us. If we worry about them, imagine how they worry about themselves.”

Strosberg is the rabbi at Sherith Israel in Nashville. He said he knows other Nashville residents also have family in Israel.

“Unfortunately, there have been many historical moments in Jewish history, so there is always something going on,” he said. “I think the most important thing is to help people where they are. Listening to them. And reassuring them that everything will be fine.”

Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel.

There is no immediate information about the victims of Tuesday’s attack. Israel said it intercepted many of the missiles, and officials in Washington said the U.S. destroyers were helping defend Israel. Israel has ordered communities in southern Lebanon near the border to leave the country after launching what it called a limited ground operation against Hezbollah targets that pose a direct threat to communities in northern Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning on Monday to Iran, which supports Hezbollah and Hamas.

At this point I asked Strosberg where he found hope.

“From God, of course, but we also have to look at history and realize the role we play in destiny,” Strosberg said. “Israel must stop listening to calls for a ceasefire. He must do his job to protect his civilian population. It’s very, very hard work and this is a historic moment that we’re in right now. We must take an active role in ensuring that tomorrow is better than today.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Do you have more information about this story? You can email Hannah at [email protected].

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