Wayland Town Crier 7/17/14: Middle East strife hits home for local families. Having lived in Israel for more than two decades, Julie Cohen Shafiki has been in the country when tensions have escalated. “I never actually experienced fear and worry as I did this time,” said Shafiki, who grew up in Weston. Shafiki had just left work in a community near Tel Aviv when an air raid siren went off. “I just stood by the side of the car,” said Shafiki, who was back in MetroWest this week. I had no idea what to do.”