                        In Time of Crisis
                   All Jews must stand Together
                        February 6, 1991
                      by Gary M. Cooperberg

       On January 15th 1991 the phone rang in my home at about 2:30 in the morning.  It was
my "recruiting officer" who informed me that I was just inducted into the army by emergency
order.  I had to report immediately to our local base in Kiryat Arba and sign in.  I was among
several local men assigned to civil defense duty in Kiryat Arba in preparation for the imminent
war.  

       With the outbreak of hostilities, two days later, we were ordered to shave off our
beards, as they prevent gas masks from being effective.  The entire country was, and still is under
alert for a possible poison gas attack from Iraq.

       While events have thusfar shown that Iraqi missiles have been of  the conventional type
and all directed at Tel Aviv, until we know otherwise we must be prepared for the worst, and in
all parts of our country.  The IDF has shown itself quite capable of protecting its citizens and has
already done an incredible job in providing protection for everyone.  

       While armchair critics attack our leaders for allegedly restraining themselves from
reacting to missile attacks from Iraq, the fact is that only outsiders have used that terminology. 
Shamir and Arens have made it quite clear that Israel will respond, but on its terms.  If these
attacks came in a vacuum, and nothing was being done to stop them, it would be criminal for
Israel not to counter attack immediately.  But that is simply not the case.  Iraq is under heavy
bombardment around the clock.  Although I am not privy to defense strategy here, I have no
doubts that the IDF is watching all developments very carefully and making preparations to
guarantee the safety of this country in every conceivable eventuality.

       Although I am no fan of either Shamir or Arens, under the present crisis situation I am
convinced that they are taking this country's vital interests as their prior concern, and are doing
everything possible to protect those interests.  In this time of crisis we must all stand together and
support our leaders.  As our redemption comes ever so much closer and our merits are so few,
the unity of the Jewish People can earn us the merit we lack.