Bomb on my Train!

Hi friends and family!

Do I have a story for you!

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to hang out on the beach. I figured a nice swim and tan would do me good from all the Torah I've been learning and hard work I've been putting into my future.

So the time came, I packed a bag of beach apparel, a book on finance & investing, and a sidur (prayer book). 

I got on the train and enjoyed a pleasant ride to Tel Aviv beach.

However on the way amongst the relaxing journey I realized I still hadn't prayed my afternoon prayers (called mincha) so I decided to go look for a nice quite spot to pray.

I told the soldier's sitting beside me that I'd return shortly.

So I left my bag, book, and bottle of water on my seat. 

I took a stroll with my sidur to find a quality spot where I could concentrate on my prayers. 

I walked through a few trains carts and found the perfect spot to invest sometime to pray to God. I got focused and prayed a very meaningful meditation. 

After about 10 minutes or so I started to walk back to my seat. 

Along the way, a train employee asked me in Hebrew "is the bag over there yours?" 

There must have been over 50 people on that particular cart. Thus I couldn't get a good look of what bag he was pointing to, in addition I could have sworn I sat somewhere else in a different cart completely, so I said "no."

I started walking through the train looking for my seat.

I looked for my stuff as a designated marker for where my seat was.

All of sudden I had walked to the opposite end of the entire length of the train and hadn't seen my stuff. 

Then I heard on the intercom in Hebrew: "Is someone missing a grey bag. If so come speak to a representative."

So I walked back to other end of the train looking for an employee, and of course there aren't any to be found. 

Then I hear on the intercom that my stop is the next one!

I start asking passengers where I can find an employee, and no one has a clue!

Then my stop arrives, so I figure, ill take a step out of the train and ask a worker standing on the platform to help me. I saw an employee whom worked at the train station (not from my train) but standing on the platform and said "excuse me." 

The young woman looked at me.

I said "come here please"

she then shrugged her shoulders...

Maybe she was confused...

So I repeated, "excuse me, could you help me."

This time she raised her arms up, gesturing in body language as if she said "what"

Now every second that passes the door could close with all my stuff on the train.

So I yelled in Hebrew: "HELP!!!"

As she finally realized something was wrong... she begna walking toward me, and ofcourse the train doors began to close so I jumped back on the train!

Now im not an expert in customer service, nor in security. But in Toronto, an employee in the same situation would have stopped the train for at least a minute to help...

but T.I.I, This Is Israel.

Anyway, now I'm starting to feel my heart race.

Im thinking, what if they got rid of my bag by now? They might think its a bomb...

So I pick up my pace and look for any worker on site. 

I finally find a worker on the opposite end of the train and ask him, "where is my bag?"

He freaks out and yells "are you normal!! I asked you a while ago if your bag was the one I pointed out."

Feeling embarrassed I told him that I had forgotten exactly where I sat. 

He told me my bag was about to be blown up incase it had a bomb in it!!

I said "there's no bomb, just books and beach stuff. Relax"

He said "relax? This isn't switzerland. This is Israel. Terrorists want to destroy this country. Don't tell me to relax."

You know what, he was right.

I learned my lesson. Do not leave bags lying around because it can frighten others, and is a safety precaution. 

Unfortunately this world isn't perfect and some people in their passion of hatred would blow up a train and kill hundreds because they think people like me, a Jew, an Israeli is an evil being, and should be wiped of the face of this country. 

Nonetheless, Im alive!

I made it to the beach and had a wonderful day.

Now I look back and laugh!

What a safe country I live in!

Have a great day and to those celebrating the day of rest Shabbat Shalom!

 

LO

VE

Adam Ezekiel