No, this was not a normal event. Why would the army call up reservists on Yom Kippur?

Who: Mrs. Rochel Istrin
Where: Bat Yam, Israel
When: Yom Kippur 1973

My cousin and I came to Israel the summer after our graduation. Sara Leah planned to make aliyah, but I assumed my future would be waiting for me in New York.

The summer passed quickly as we wandered the Old City, improved our Hebrew, and hiked to tourist sites. Rosh Hashanah brought us an opportunity to visit Bat Yam, a lovely city on the Mediterranean Sea, where we had relatives. The only difficulty we experienced was getting there from the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. The Egged buses then had no air conditioning, and the 90-minute trip to Tel Aviv was standing-room only, followed by another hour of traffic jams from Tel Aviv to Jaffa to Bat Yam.

But it was worth the trouble. We Amerikaner were received like royal guests, our cousins competing with each other to make us feel wanted and comfortable. Mesmerized by our friendly Israeli family and the beautiful sea, we unanimously decided to return for Yom Kippur.

Neither of us had an inkling of what an unforgettable Yom Kippur that was going to be.

On Erev Yom Kippur, I was impressed as traffic halted and a meaningful hush descended. Families strolled to shul, their children romping in the middle of the empty streets. My cousin and I were welcomed like celebrities. It seemed that every woman in the women’s section wanted to greet us and warmly wish us an easy fast.

The seats filled quickly but people continued to come until there was no longer any space to stand. While the chazan intoned Kol Nidrei, the yard and even the stairs filled with people. Sara Leah and I were drawn into the holiness of Yom Kippur. Ancient melodies uplifted us while the solemn serenity of Yom Kippur opened our hearts as never before.

After Shacharis, I sensed an undercurrent of agitation among the women, but I didn’t know why. Then, during the chazzan’s repetition, I saw the crowd part like the sea at Yetzias Mitzrayim. A man in a soldier’s khaki uniform ran toward the bimah, tapped a man on the shoulder, and led him back out. This happened several times. Sara Leah and I exchanged glances, shrugging our shoulders in bewilderment. Was this normal?

Alarmed women clicked their tongues. We could hear whispers. No, this was not a normal event. Why would the army call up reservists on Yom Kippur?