On April 10, I had the opportunity to speak with one of Salem College’s alums, Yolanda Hairston Adar, who graduated from Salem College in 1996. During her time at Salem, she founded the now dormant Jewish Student Life Club, Hillel. Adar went on to become an entrepreneur and podcast host who has worked in journalism and marketing for most of her career.
Adar has been living in Israel for the past twenty years.
Adar currently lives in Natanya, a city twenty minutes North of Tel Aviv. While there have been no strikes in Natanya, according to Adar, Tel Aviv has been hit significantly.
Adar described her life in Israel before the US and Israel bombed Iran as idyllic, “safe”, diverse, and vibrant. Adar recalled the time before the conflict, noting she had “plenty of Muslim friends, plenty of Arab friends, plenty of friends who are Arab Muslims but describe themselves as Israelis, some who say they are Palestinians, all kinds of people.”
Since October 7th, 2023, when Hamas coordinated an attack on Israel, Adar’s life in Israel has shifted. Since the US and Israel bombed Iran, Adar’s life has changed radically, “My life…has been on hold.” Adar hasn’t been able to work routinely during the conflict due to the obvious threats on her and loved one’s lives. Adar notes that her daily routine “is like COVID again, but with missiles.”
Adar has been able to keep up with family and friends through WhatsApp chats that provide her with updates about any missile strikes within her area. Friends have filmed missiles landing outside of their apartments, and while Adar shared that her family living in Israel is safe, she never knows when the next strike is going to hit.
“It feels like a dream…I’ve been so angry.” Adar voiced her frustration with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, saying she and her husband protested against his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s a point of view I don’t think enough people in the states are hearing…So many of us wanted to get rid of Netanyahu. He is the other side of President Trump.”
Adar also explained how she believes Netanyahu has engaged in a war against Iran to avoid corruption charges and stay out of prison. “Israel’s standing in the world…he’s (Netanyahu) ruined it.” Adar has been unable to get clients as they will not hire her, knowing she is living in a war zone. Adar expressed her resentment with perceptions of Israelis during this war, saying that the Israeli people should be separated from the actions of their government.
Adar spoke candidly on her perceptions of the relations between Israeli and Iranian people in Israel, stating how she believes everyone just wants peace and mobility. “Our governments hate each other and try to make religious people indoctrinated into hating each other.”
Communications from the Israeli government about the war have been, in Adar’s view, very biased in support of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government. As of April 14, the war has raged on for 46 days. In the last minutes of our conversation, Adar expressed concerns about returning back to her daily life, reiterating her want for peace and security during times of such violence and uncertainty.
