Peaceful Feeling
BY MOSHE KATZ 
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL

May 12, 2026, Vienna International Airport

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'Cause I get a peaceful easy feeling

And I know you won't let me down

Entering the beautiful Vienna Lounge, the kids chose to sit near the window so that they can watch the planes. I generally prefer a quieter spot, a little darker, away from the light, but I join them. It has been an interesting time in Vienna, teaching Krav Maga, meeting a diverse group of people, Krav Maga students, rabbis, business owners, shop keepers, local Jews, Israelis making a new life in Vienna, and many local Viennese from all walks of life. 

These locals are unfamiliar with war, with fear. Austria, and in fact most of Europe does not seem to have any military force one can rely on, they rely upon the American armed forces to protect them. The entire concept of war seems alien to them, otherworldly, they are happy. In fact, we are amazed at how happy they are. As one of member of our group kept pointing out - no war, no running to the bomb shelter in the middle of the night, no being called up to fight on the front lines, sure, it is easier for them to be happy.

There is crime, and there is violence. I know that the Jewish community certainly lives with fear of being attacked by the immigrant community. All Jewish houses of prayer and gathering have armed guards and serious security systems.

We arrive at the airport and can immediately spot the El Al Israeli airlines waiting area, there are heavily armed police everywhere, what an honor my daughter says, all this just for us!. Soon combat soldiers in full military gear arrive. We cannot help but notice how different we are. 

Back to the lounge where our story begins, the young ones chose to sit near the big window. We can see the planes. For me it is surreal, real but yet it seemed like unreal, fantasy. I see planes belonging to airlines that seemed not to exist, for us, ghosts. During these past few years these airlines have stopped flying to Israel, I see Ryanair, Austrian Airlines and others. How unreal, in our country only Israeli airlines are operating, all others are keeping a safe distance, and yet here, life goes on as normal, peacefully. 

I look out the window and reflect on this, what a peaceful easy feeling, that is something we do not feel in our country. Here, war is a thing of the past, they have forgotten what it is like. When we visited the "Hitler Balcony" at the Heldenplatz where Hitler gave his speech in March 1938, I see that now the building is devoted to spreading tolerance. A country at peace, what a peaceful easy feeling. But for us it is still not that way.

As I sit in this beautiful lounge I recall events from my younger years, I recall how on December 27, 1985, the El Al ticket counter was attacked by Abu Nidal, Fatah – Revolutionary Council, an Arab terrorist organization that simultaneously conducted a terrorist attack at Fiumicino Airport in Rome. Thus, we still have the intense security, and yet all of us must remain cautious and conscious of everything around us. We all have a responsibility.

And so it is, for all of us, wherever we may be, whomever we are, and whatever time we live in, we never know who may target us. We never know why someone might chose us to let out his anger out on us. We may be the victims of random, senseless violence, or we may be targeted for reasons that are unknown us, a woman who looks like the girl how rejected a guy for the high school prom, the bank clerk who turned down a guy for a loan. We may never know, but we must be ready, all of us, all the time. 

And I sip my coffee and reflect, what a peaceful, easy, feeling, (The Eagles) but we must never be lulled into a false sense of security as Evil walks besides us.....

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Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt Hall of fame, USA and Europe.

Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz

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What is the cultural background of Krav Maga?  What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?

What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?

What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?

How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?

All that and more in this unique book.

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