We haven’t posted anything to our Jerusalem blog since we returned home in late July, but a number of our friends have written us asking for any information we might have about the conflict in Israel, and in particular about the BYU Jerusalem Center.

As for the war, we are watching the news like everyone else, and even our friends living in the BYU Center say that they get their news from the same international sources that we do.

 

The BYU Center is posting daily security updates at this link:

https://jerusalemcenter.ce.byu.edu/security-updates

Security has always been very tight at the Center, and I’m sure they are monitoring things closely. There are two large bomb shelters at the Center. They hadn’t been used for many years, but they have been used in the last few days when sirens in the area have sounded. 

 

For now everyone is safe at the BYU Center, and there are no immediate plans to send the students home. They have not been able to go out as freely as before, and several of their field trips have been canceled. Last Sunday’s concert was canceled. I’m sure the administration is taking things one day at a time.

 

In our whole time in Israel we were never witness to any hostilities and we never felt in any danger. Little did we think when we left that things could turn so quickly. We are praying for our friends there and for peace in the region.