On Oct. 7, while Coral, Ido and Ori Shlomo were likely having dinner at their grandmother’s house or at home relaxing, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, sending a group of rockets towards Israel and as gunmen lined and breached the border.
The Shlomo family originally lived in the center of Israel in towns near Tel Aviv, Israel, and moved in April of 2022 because they had family here and wanted the feel of a new country. Coral Shlomo (10) is grateful for this opportunity to visit a new place, but she quickly learned that the change would be difficult. “It’s been difficult to move here, knowing that I’m not gonna see my family and my friends again in daily life,” Shlomo said.
There are many differences between the Shlomo’s life in Israel compared to Colorado Springs, such as education. “The subjects in my school in Israel were history, health, PE, Hebrew Bible, science, math, Hebrew class and English,” Shlomo said.
The recent war in Israel has affected the Shlomo family. “Israel is going through a nightmare,” Shlomo said. “Can you even imagine it yourself? Kids have been kidnapped, elders and babies have been taken into Gaza and are fighting for their own lives.”
Shlomo hopes that the peace of her country is restored. She sees parallels between the Holocaust and what is happening to Jewish people in Israel right now. “If Israel drops their weapons, Israel will die. If Gaza drops their weapons, there will be peace in the Holocaust,” Shlomo said. “Six million Jews were murdered because they were Jews. That’s why I say that our ancestors dreamed of a State and unfortunately didn’t get to see it.”
Ido Shlomo, Coral’s older brother and 2023 MSHS graduate, has also had to adapt to changes after moving. “School was much harder and getting an A was almost impossible,” Ido Shlomo said. “The teachers are also very different, and they barely control the class when they get loud.”
Ido Shlomo has also felt the impact of the war in Israel. “I know that a lot of people are suffering from both sides because of a genocide that Hamas, the terror organization started,” Ido Shlomo said.
In Israel, both men and women are required to serve three or more years in the military after the age of 18. Ido Shlomo is grateful for the opportunity to pursue his desired career rather than serve in the military. “I currently do not want to join the military because I’m here, and I don’t want to go back and live there for three years just to serve in the military even though it is my country,” Ido Shlomo said. “I feel better here, and I feel like I can better pursue my dreams.”
Ido Shlomo is also grateful for his family’s situation in America. “My family doesn’t plan to go back to live in Israel for now,” we’re good here and our situation here is much better than it was back there,” he said.
Brian Brown, a social studies teacher at MSHS, is educated in the history behind this issue. “It’s more of a very ancient battle over whose land it really is, the problem became complicated when religion was brought into it,” Brown said. “And so as we get Judaism and Islam into the mix, and then later Christianity as the division grows, it’s beyond simply saying, who was here first.”
Brown tries to integrate the history into his classes so that his students are aware. “I want the students to be aware so they can be informed and the depth will allow them to be more educated when they enter into the conversation,” Brown said.
Brown also recognizes the differences between what is considered normal in either country. “We don’t see the idea of a bomb shelter, but they do; that’s very prevalent,” Brown said. “We do have a second amendment, but we don’t see a lot of people walking around with guns openly. You will see that when you go to Israel.”
Teens who grow up in relatively peaceful environments often are not exposed to religious conflict that elevates to war. Shlomo has lived a different life than her classmates.
Shlomo is grateful that her country continues to fight. “We were the Jewish people, we are the people who suffered the most mental and physical abuse and are still surviving now,” Coral Shlomo said.
*Editor’s note: This story is not intended as a political statement. The views expressed are those of the sources, who are students and former students of MSHS. The intent of this article is to show how the current war in Israel affects these members of our community.
