If you are asking how we’re doing during this challengingtime, that’s the short answer.

Here’s the long answer.

We’re tired of being woken up by the blaring wail of sirensat midnight, or at three in the morning, or at both hours.

We’re tired of running to our reinforced saferooms and ourpublic shelters, sitting on the floor uncomfortably as we all stare at ourmobile phones for the latest information about where the missiles struck.

We’re tired of hearing the boom of ballistic missilesoverhead as they are blown up by our anti-ballistic rockets.

We’re tired of returning to our beds, unable to fall backasleep as we fearfully await the next missile attack.

We’re tired of turning on the television news to scenes ofthe night’s destructive toll – people injured and killed, buildings bombed,cars burnt, craters and piles of debris everywhere, homes lost, livesinterrupted.

We’re tired of being unable to go to work, unable to sendour children to school and to kindergarten, unable to go shopping even for themost essential things without worrying whether the next missile attack willcatch us somewhere where there is no nearby shelter.

We’re tired of seeing our airport closed and internationalairlines canceling all their flights to Israel.

We’re tired of canceling our weekend plans and our summervacations.

We’re tired of watching the bombing of Iran, even if itmeans we’re taking out their nuclear sites and military facilities, because weknow it will result in further missile strikes against us.

We’re tired of the world dismissing our need to confront anEvil that seeks to destroy us while it lies blatantly about enriching uraniumfor peaceful research.

We’re tired of hearing that America bombed Iran because thisis Israel’s war, when it is the war of the entire civilized world against thisEvil.

We’re tired of seeing Iranian citizens fleeing Tehran,unable to overturn their theocratic repressive regime.

We’re tired of all this, and more.

We’re tired that we still have 50 hostages held byterrorists in Gaza, and whose freedom is not a priority of our government.

We’re tired that our prime minister refuses to takeresponsibility for what happened on October 7, 2023, in the greatest tragedy tobefall the Jewish People since the Holocaust.

We’re tired that our soldiers are fighting every day inGaza, and we’re tired of seeing their young faces on the news, the latestcasualties of a seemingly endless war.

We’re tired of the entire world shouting cries of ‘genocide’as we do our best to avoid civilian casualties.

We’re tired of fighting terrorists who dig tunnels underhospitals, hide their weapons in schools, take cover behind civilians and stealthe aid provided by humanitarian organizations.

We’re tired of how Gazans are suffering.

We’re tired of our inability to throw out our corrupt,right-wing, extremist government.

We’re tired of the government giving limitless funding tothe ultra-Orthodox and letting their young men avoid compulsory army service.

We’re tired of our right-wing government moving endlessly tocurb media freedom and overturn our judicial system.

We’re tired of our government allowing the establishment ofmore and more settlements across the West Bank.

We’re tired of what we’re doing to the Palestinians.

We’re tired of regarding our Arab citizens as second-class.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve everhad is about to get credit for finally confronting the Iranian nuclear threat.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve everhad is allowing extremists to do anything they want, just so he can remain inpower.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve everhad is prolonging the trial that is meant to hold him accountable for hiscorruption.

We’re tired of inflation, of the lack of affordable housing,of the traffic jams on the highways, and the crowded national parks.

We’re tired of all this, and more.

Yet, despite being tired, we love Israel. We love its religiousimportance, its amazing history, and its colorful traditions. We love its high-tech,its stunning nature, its beaches, and its nightlife. We love its youth and itshope and promise for the future.

We’re tired, but we will continue to fight for our countrybecause this is home.

Originally posted on The Times of Israel.