Blessed Despite the War: A Perspective on Living in Israel

# Blessed Despite the War: A Perspective on Living in Israel

**Published:** March 5, 2026 | **Author:** Devin Pillemer | **Location:** Tel Aviv, Israel

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## The View from Here

There’s a war happening. Iran, Israel, the US — the geopolitical fabric is taut, complex, and real. Living in Israel right now means you’re affected. But I’ve learned something crucial: *how much you’re affected depends entirely on perspective.*

I’m writing this from a place of profound gratitude. Not denial. Not minimization. But clarity about where we stand.

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## Layers of Reality

### The Fortunate

My wife and I are staying with cousins right now — an incredible family. The husband is in *Sherut Kova* — mandatory military service. They have two daughters, three and six years old. The mother manages the household alone while he serves. They have an apartment with a *mamad* — a safe room. That’s their refuge.

But they *have* one. They’re managing. They’re still here, together, with walls around them.

### The Harder Cases

Then there’s my wife’s family. During the last war, both her brother and sister-in-law were serving simultaneously. The kids stayed with their grandparents. Let that sink in — two parents gone, children waiting.

And beyond that: the injured. The grieving. The families who lost someone and carry that weight every single day.

### The Spectrum

Living through this, you see the full spectrum. Some people are directly affected — family members in combat, homes in active zones, losses that redefine their lives. Others are a step removed but still carrying the weight. And some, like us, are in the fortunate position of being relatively sheltered — physically safe, economically stable, emotionally supported.

All of it is real. All of it matters. None of it negates the other.

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## The Paradox of Gratitude and Reality

Here’s what I’ve learned: **Being blessed doesn’t mean it’s easy.**

Yes, my wife and I are grateful. Yes, we’re lucky. Yes, we have a loving relationship and a child and each other. Thank God for that.

But that doesn’t mean we’re unaffected.

We still have full-time jobs. The economy doesn’t pause for geopolitics. Markets don’t care about regional conflict — they care about your targets. Boards don’t stop expecting results because there’s a war. Maybe they sympathize. Probably not that much. You’re still in sales. Your numbers are still your numbers.

You’re managing a household. You’re managing a child’s needs and anxieties. You’re showing up to work. You’re paying bills. You’re trying to be present for your family. You’re carrying the weight of the moment while pretending normalcy for your kids’ sake.

It’s not easy. But it’s manageable. And we’re deeply grateful that it’s manageable.

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## Perspective as Practice

I think the key insight — the thing that keeps me sane — is **perspective as a deliberate practice, not a platitude.**

When I see families like my cousins managing with one parent gone and two young kids, I’m reminded: our challenges are real, but they’re surmountable. When I think about my wife’s family during the last war, I’m reminded: we have each other. Right now. Today.

Perspective doesn’t erase difficulty. It contextualizes it. It lets you say:

> *”This is hard. And we’re going to be okay. And we’re grateful for what we have.”*

All three things at once.

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## Living in the Tension

This is what it means to live in Israel right now — you live in the tension between:

– **Gratitude** and reality
– **Safety** and uncertainty
– **Normalcy** and awareness
– **Hope** and difficulty

You don’t resolve the tension. You live in it. You show up. You work. You love your family. You do your job. You pay your targets. You make decisions. You move forward.

And you’re deeply, genuinely grateful for the ability to do those things.

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## A Note of Closure

To anyone reading this from outside: understand that Israel is not a monolith of suffering or strength. It’s complex. It’s people managing real challenges with real grace. It’s families adapting. It’s businesses operating. It’s life continuing because life must continue.

To anyone here in Israel: we’re in this together. Some of you are carrying heavier loads. Some are sheltered. Most are somewhere in between. All of it is valid. All of it matters.

And we’re all grateful to be here, with each other, doing what we can.

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*This post was written in Tel Aviv, Israel, during an ongoing regional conflict. It’s a personal reflection on perspective, gratitude, and the complexity of living through challenging times.*

*If you’re reading this and you’re struggling — whether from proximity to the conflict, anxiety about it, or anything else — know that your experience is valid. Seek support. Talk to people you trust. And find small moments of gratitude where you can.*

*We’re going to be okay.*

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**Tags:** #Israel #Perspective #Gratitude #War #LifeGoesOn #FamilyFirst #Resilience