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November 20, 2012
An update from the President of Jerusalem
University College
The alarm sirens again sounded in Jerusalem
this afternoon. All of the JUC students and staff quickly moved to
the campus safe room where we remained for ten minutes according to
protocol. As reported by the Israel Defense Forces and many news
media, two rockets from Gaza landed in open ground near Gush Etzion
south of Bethlehem. This was the same vicinity in which a rocket
landed last Friday. Like the residents of Jerusalem always do, we in
the JUC community quickly resumed normal activities after the siren
ended—by going back to class, to the library and dorm, or out to the
gardens and grounds.
Our restrictions against travel to the West
Bank, including Bethlehem, remain in place. Beyond that, we continue
to monitor the situation. The mood on campus is positive as students
prepare their semester papers and for final exams. In our opinion,
there is no reason to make decisions that would curtail our
semester.
We are all looking forward to our Thanksgiving
dinner on Friday this week, and a campus community Christmas carol
service at St. Andrews church the next night (celebrating the
holidays comes fast this year!)
Dr. Paul Wright
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November 16, 2012: From Dr.
Paul Wright
By now you have probably seen some of the news
reports that describe and comment on the rockets fired from Gaza
that have hit outside of Tel Aviv and south of Jerusalem earlier
today. I would like to share some things with you that I shared with
our students at our weekly Friday Shabbat meal this evening.
Most importantly, all of our students are safe
and secure. I have asked everyone to stay on campus tonight, and
that I may continue that request for tomorrow (Saturday) as well. In
any case, because it is not possible to predict the response of the
day’s events by people who live in and around Jerusalem, I have
asked all of our students to not visit the East Jerusalem or the
West Bank until further notice. This is consistent with the warnings
and restrictions that were published today by the US Embassy in Tel
Aviv. As well, our students are not allowed to travel on their own
throughout Israel without me first giving the OK to their itinerary
(I should note that the vast majority of the country remains very
secure, without any incident of any kind). I also reviewed with our
students our on-campus protocol in case the warning sirens sound in
Jerusalem again, as they did briefly late this afternoon. We have a
secure room in an interior part of our campus in which everyone will
gather during, and for a short period following, the sirens. In
fact, our building has a very distinct advantage for being as old as
it is—with four-foot thick solid stone walls, it is one of the
safest buildings in the entire country. While it is not possible to
predict how the current situation might end—and there are no lack
of pundits making comment without end—we are committed to finishing
the last two weeks of our semester as planned. After offering some
prayers that God’s grace and wisdom would prevail, and for the peace
of Jerusalem, we enjoyed another wonderful Shabbat meal with all the
requisite blessings for the week ahead.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any
questions or concerns.
Paul Wright
President, Jerusalem University College |
