Israeli Living In Mobile Watches Conflict

Gaza Strip Israel A goodwill ambassador living on the Gulf Coast is keeping in close contact with friends and family trying to stay safe.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, January 09, 2009 - 3:44 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, January 09, 2009 - 4:55 pm CST

Shir Mnuchin has been spending a lot of time on the phone lately catching up with friends like Olga, someone trying to stay out of harm's way in Israel.

“I just ask them if they're alright and if everything's okay and they're safe,” says Shir. She is a former member of the Israeli Defense Force Education Corps. Today she's a volunteer with the Jewish Agency. It’s an organization dedicated to promoting Israel. Shir's program is being sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Mobile

“Having the influence just on a daily basis has a great influence on their perception of Israel,” says Shir. She says, with daily contact with family and friends sometimes it can feel overwhelming being so far away.

“When I was talking to my friend today I told her I wanted to give her a hug and that sometimes makes me feel helpless when I can't do that small little thing,” says Shir. She says many of her friends and family are being called in to the reserves. She says she's ready to go back if asked.

“The first thing I wanted to do was pack all my stuff and go back home to support my family, my friends my country,” she says. Shir says Israel is defending itself from attacks from the south. She says morale continues to be high.

“And people are doing what they think they need to do to defend their country,” she says. Shir says she'll keep doing what she can from the u-s to put a face on her home.

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