On Monday morning, as the city of Tel Aviv braced for the ongoing threat of missile strikes, Marissa Sarfatti found herself in the safe room of her apartment, surrounded by three other people. The world outside was in chaos as buildings shook from the blast of a ballistic missile fired from Iran.
What followed was a terrifying experience that no one could have prepared for—but one that showed the strength of community and the power of human resilience.
Sarfatti, who moved to Israel 11 years ago from South Africa, was no stranger to the fear that comes with living in a conflict zone. When the sirens first went off, she had already taken precautions, as she always did. Alana, her close friend, was staying with her, as was Sarah, another guest. They had a plan in place: when the sirens went off, they would head to the safe room (mamad) and stay there until it was safe to leave. But, as often happens during times of crisis, the danger became more imminent than anyone had expected.
“It all happened so quickly,” Sarfatti recalled. "We got the notification at 12:30 AM, and then just as we started to relax, another siren went off at 4:00 AM. That’s when it hit—literally and figuratively."
'The whole building swayed'
In those harrowing moments, her world seemed to shift, both physically and emotionally. The building shook as the missile made its impact. "It was the loudest sound I have ever heard in my life. It was like a clap of thunder right in my ear,” she described. “The whole building swayed. I thought it was going to collapse.”
Despite the shock and the fear, Sarfatti and her guests remained calm.
As the explosion rocked the building, Sarfatti was struck by the realization that the blast could have been far worse. "The windows in the safe room were shattered, but thank God, no one was hurt by the flying glass. It was the kind of explosion that rattles you to your core," she said.
The next moments were filled with uncertainty. The blast had destroyed much of the apartment, and emergency responders worked to clear the debris. Sarfatti’s primary concern, however, was her three beloved cats, who were scattered throughout the apartment. "I knew that Lulu, my female cat, would be hiding in a safe spot. But I didn’t know where Simba or Felix were."
The situation was dire, but Sarfatti’s determination didn’t falter. Emergency services could not open the door of the shelter for 30 minutes, due to the damage from the missile strike. After being freed, she quickly learned of the damage around her. Her whole building was in shambles, forever changing the lives of Sarfatti and all of her neighbors.
She was out, but she had a mission: finding he cats. She was quickly assisted by neighbors and emergency personnel who worked together to find them. “They were amazing,” Sarfatti said, tears of relief in her eyes. "Eventually, we found Simba on the roof, and Felix had made his way to a shelf, probably to stay out of harm’s way."
Her home was reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds. Walking through the scene, everything was in shambles. Family pictures lay on the floor, cracked, like something you’d find in a horror film of an abandoned house. Entire sheets of broken glass were spread across her bedroom, bathroom, and other living spaces. It looked as if the missile had landed directly in her duplex.
However, Sarfatti’s sense of gratitude for her neighbors was overwhelming.
“I didn’t even know some of these people before this happened, but the way everyone pulled together was incredible. My friend Dan, who had heard what happened, was at my door in 20 minutes to help me. He wasn’t the only one. People I didn’t expect to step up were there when I needed them most."
While the situation was traumatic, Sarfatti’s story is ultimately one of hope and solidarity. "I think the most incredible part of all of this is the community,” she said. “We were all in this together. I couldn’t have gotten through it without the support of my friends, neighbors, and even strangers who came to help."
Reflecting on the experience, she was especially grateful for the preparedness and the lessons learned along the way. “I had already packed a suitcase with documents, money, and clothes. It felt like a small thing at the time, but when we saw the damage and smelled the concrete dust, I realized just how important it was. I was ready.”
As the dust settled and the community began to rebuild, Sarfatti’s focus turned to the future. "We don’t know what’s next. But I have my cats, I have my community, and I know that I’m not alone in this."
Her resilience is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of collective support seldom found outside of Israel.
She expressed that she firmly believes in the strength that came from continuous prayer, reading Tehillim, singing Jewish melodies, and repeating the phrase, “The guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers.”
Her safety has taught her many lessons, but one was replaying constantly: you never think it could happen to you, until it does. Now, it's time to rebuild.