Differences of Daily Life in Israel Since October 7th

Despite the tragedy of October 7th, for many teenagers, things have not changed very much. Adults go to work throughout the week and teens go to school and play soccer with their friends afterward. On a daily level, here are some things that remain unchanged in Israel and some things that have changed. 

1) Shabbat has stayed the same. Shops and schools close early on Friday and stay closed throughout Shabbat. This means that many Israelis only have a one-day weekend. When interviewing a resident of Israel, they told me that there are fewer cars on the street during Shabbat, compared to the week. They describe that life comes to a standstill as the nation rests from a busy week. That’s not to say that all Israelis are actually resting on Shabbat; only 12% of Israeli Jews identify as da’ati (religious/Orthodox). During Shabbat, many families come together to hold Kiddush, even if they aren’t highly religious. This has not changed because of October 7th.

2) Safety, or rather feeling safe, has changed. A hotly debated question is whether or not Israel is safer than America. To get a feel for how people felt, I asked a close relative and an Israeli, Rachel Lavon, if she felt safe living in Israel.

“Whenever I walk through the streets at night, I look over my shoulder to make sure there isn’t a terrorist near me. We are told to look for big backpacks or things tucked under a shirt by the people near us. 

In America, there is no fear when you are walking the streets,” she said. I then followed up, asking her about the dangerous places in the United States. “In America, you feel scared to be outside during the dark because there are criminals. In Israel, you feel scared to be out because you are a Jew.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that Israel is unsafe, she claimed. “There is nowhere else safer to be Jewish [than Israel].

3) Policing, or rather the role of police, has changed. This topic goes hand-in-hand with safety. Many in the United States feel that they are over-policed, and it is currently a hot subject of political debate as to whether the police have too much power. On the contrary, many Israelis I’ve talked to feel vulnerable and unprotected from crime. When I asked an anonymous interviewee, “Who would protect you if somebody broke into your house?” They satirically answered “G-d” in an attempt to convey disdain for the Israeli police. Many have said that they are afraid to leave their houses in fear of terrorist attacks. 

Their fear isn’t too misguided: Israel has increased by 24 spots to second place on the Global Terrorism Index, ahead of countries like Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan.

The perceived failures of the IDF and police to protect Israelis on October 7th have directly impacted how people feel about the police and their safety.

4) Food. One thing that has not changed since October 7th, and to finish off on a much brighter note is food. Most shops and restaurants you find in Israel are kosher. In Tel Aviv, the city often considered one of the most secular in Israel, approximately 50% of businesses are certified kosher. From my experience, most businesses that aren’t certified don’t serve too many unkosher items because it is frowned upon by most of the Israeli public. The food in Israel feels less greasy and oily than those in the States and often is healthier. This has not changed.

 While it is clear that there have been numerous changes to Israel since October 7th, it’s important to understand how tradition and social norms have and have not changed.