The following story dramatizes how the Turning Point 2 preparedness drill unfolded at Ben-Gurion Elementary School on Rehov Poale Harakevet in Givatayim on Tuesday, April 8, between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.

Amit powers past two defenders, passes the ball to Roei, who fakes, then takes a shot from inside the circle. The ball bounces off the rim, but Amit is there to pick up the rebound. Roei circles round as Doron blocks another defender.

Amit and Roei try the routine again: Again it doesn’t go in, and this time the opposing team picks up the rebound.

All around the six older boys, many of the school’s other 331 pupils are at play. Two girls, holding hands, skip past two others who are hugging and singing. Two other girls are tormenting a younger boy, taking his left leg, then his right leg, and teaching him how they think he should walk.

Some of the older girls, in their very early teens, are singing, and one even has the gall to ask another if she brushed her teeth this morning, “Oh my God, your breath stinks,” she chuckles, and all four girls giggle.

Four 10-year-old boys race each other from one end of the playground to the other. In the other direction, little Tomer outruns a girl twice his size.

Two scruffy-looking boys are playing a soccer penalty shootout with a small rock, but it hurts their feet too much for the game to go on for long. In any case, the bell rings and everyone rushes to class.

But before they can even catch their breath, a siren goes off. A few seconds go by, then Daphna the principal’s voice comes over the PA system: “This is not a drill, everyone has one minute to get to the bomb shelters. Go!”

A teacher in a class of six-year-olds says calmly: “Remember how we prepared for this? We’re ready. Now, like big children I want you to line up, hold hands and follow me. Remember to play the sweet music in your head that we talked about.” Continue reading →