Israel ties bind Cape family as Hanukkah gets start

The family has a synagogue named after it, one member is on the board of governors for Hebrew University in Jerusalem and they just happen to live and run clothing stores in Cape Girardeau.

Martin Hecht and his wife, Tootie, reflected the upbeat spirit that goes with Hanukkah, an eight-day "Festival of Lights" that began Friday.

But while Jews all over the world celebrate, there is fear and uncertainty among those who live in the Holy Land.

Israelis have been the target for terrorist suicide bombings. The people who live there are scared to travel.

And anything that happens in Jerusalem is being monitored closely in Cape Girardeau. The Hechts' granddaughter, Malka Hecht, lives in Jerusalem, Israel's capital city.

The Hechts, who own Hecht's clothing store on Main Street in Cape Girardeau, traveled to Jerusalem earlier this month for a specially called Hebrew University Board of Governors meeting. The meeting, Martin Hecht said, dealt mostly with finances. The university in the Middle East is experiencing some of the same economy-related financial struggles that Southeast Missouri State University is facing, he said.

The Hechts have a long history with Hebrew University. The campus synagogue, opened in 1981, is named in honor of the family, which spent 11 years raising funds to help construct the synagogue. Martin Hecht was one of 15 on the board of governors from the United States to attend the meeting last month.

Tootie Hecht said there is a different attitude in Jerusalem now than there has been in the past.

She said many people are afraid to ride buses, fearing a suicide bomber might be on board. She said arrangements have been made for her granddaughter to ride with a friend to the synagogue on Mount Scopus. There Malka Hecht helps teach Russian-Jewish emigres about Judaism.

Suicide bombings have been going on for months, and violence there seems to occur almost daily.

The Hechts mentioned Thursday's news. An Israeli charter jet, leaving a Kenya airport with 261 passengers aboard was shot at, but missed, by shoulder-fired missiles.

A few minutes later, a vehicle packed with explosives broke through the gate at an Israeli-owned hotel. One attacker ran into the lobby and blew himself up, while two others exploded the vehicle. And all on the eve of a new Hanukkah season.

Even with all the uncertainty and violence, the Hechts say the Hanukkah celebration will continue.

They said the university was preparing for the Festival of Lights when they were there in early November.

Martin Hecht said he hopes the unrest will end soon.

"I think our president is doing a good job, and I hope there will be peace soon," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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