Vietnamese in Israel celebrate Tet: Calm and put safety first

In 2023, many Vietnamese in Israel experienced a haunting time, hearing the constant sound of rockets due to the conflict. As Lunar New Year approaches, they continue to hope that the conflict will end soon so they can have a peaceful life .

For many Vietnamese in Israel, the past year has been filled with unforgettable moments due to the Hamas-Israel conflict. Holding their children’s hands and running away from home, leaving the Gaza Strip to a new place, preparing to go to a shelter at any time… are what Vietnamese people experienced during a year of political conflict. Despite being busy with work, many people still took the time to share with Thanh Nien their feelings when looking back on the past year and their plans for the new year far away.

Limit gatherings

Ms. Kim Golbari (from Dong Nai) has lived and worked in Tel Aviv, Israel for 14 years. She said that in previous years, the Vietnamese community often gathered at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel to celebrate Tet. However, this year, the Tet celebrations will take place in March, when the election period for city leaders ends. At that time, the security situation will be safer than during the Lunar New Year.

Ms. Kim takes a photo with her two children.

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"On the occasion of Tet Giap Thin, we will probably only meet friends and visit the elderly and not organize large activities. The conflict situation is still going on, so everyone has decided not to organize Tet celebrations or have lavish meals," she shared. According to Kim, the atmosphere of Tet this year is more somber than in previous years. When the conflict has not yet become tense, people have the opportunity to meet and organize cultural performances to welcome the new year. Because the organization is late, she is worried that the Tet atmosphere will be sad and not bustling.

Ms. Kim (far right) always hopes that the political situation in the country she lives in will be stable.

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"I also don't go out or visit people who live far away because the security situation is not completely safe. Everyone has a policy of not gathering in large numbers. The area where I live is relatively safe, but I don't dare organize a Tet celebration for the whole community because if anything happens, I can't take responsibility," the woman said. Kim's husband is Jewish. For the past 14 years, she has often introduced the good customs of Vietnamese people during Tet so that he knows clearly.

Ms. Kim went through a period of fear because of the tense conflict.

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Recalling the moment she carried her child to take refuge, she felt a little sad. She did not think that there would be a day when the conflict would be so intense. There were times when she felt shaken by the feelings between people, but she also experienced that being together as a family is a great happiness. As Tet approaches, she dreams of her family and the people around her living in peace. "I always cultivate happiness, trying to live well every day. Witnessing the intense conflict, I think people do not need to be petty because they do not know how life will turn out. Every time I think back to the scene of holding my child and running down the stairs, I can't help but shiver because I don't know if a rocket will hit the two of us," she said emotionally.

Try to cook traditional food

Le Van Quoc (25 years old, from Quang Nam) has been interning in Israel for nearly 6 months and is currently living in the Arava region. During the last days of the year, the young man could not help but feel sad thinking about celebrating Tet away from home. Up to now, the conflict has no longer affected his life, the area near the Gaza Strip still fires rockets but not many.

Many interns like Mr. Quoc celebrate Tet in Israel for the first time.

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The area where he lives is peaceful, all preparations for the New Year are taking place normally. A group of about 80 students from the southern region will celebrate the New Year at a location, with representatives from the school and the Embassy participating. "The group of students from northern Israel has nearly 100 people who have only been here for about a month. Everyone was mentally prepared before the flight, so hearing the sound of rockets was normal, there was nothing to worry about. On New Year's Eve, they welcomed the New Year by hearing 10 rockets fired," he shared.

Britain went to Israel not long ago

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Interns like Quoc plan to make banh chung, banh tet and other traditional dishes to celebrate Tet. Now, the army is no longer guarding the front door, no longer worried like in the early days of the conflict. Before October 12, 2023, Thuy Dung and a few other Vietnamese people lived in Sderot City. This is an area near the Gaza Strip, a high-risk area in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Not long after, she had to move to Kiryat Malakhi City to ensure safety.

Britain had a memorable time in Israel

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"We know that because the political situation is not stable, the Lunar New Year of Vietnamese people in Israel will be held in March. However, everyone will take a day off on the 30th and the first day of the Lunar New Year to celebrate New Year's Eve together," she said. According to Dung, sometimes she can't help but shiver when thinking back to the time she had to take refuge, but that also helps her to be stronger when she is in a foreign land.

Many interns plan to celebrate Tet together

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"We bought some pork from Thai people so we will cook traditional Vietnamese dishes for the traditional Tet holiday. I hope that in the new year, my family and I will always be healthy, peaceful and happy," the girl said.

Thanhnien.vn

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