Since the beginning
of 2001, the city of Sderot in Israel has been attacked by Hamas, Fatah and
Islamic Jihad terrorists who fire kassam rockets at the region on a daily
basis. The kassam attacks upon Sderot have injured hundreds, killed tens, and
have caused significant damage to homes and property. One of the most serious
ramifications of the rockets is the psychological turmoil which results with
each attack, dramatically affecting children and adults.
While the world
ignores the plight of the people of Sderot, the Betar Zionist Youth Movement in
conjunction with the Zionist Organization of America and the Sderot Media
Center, has launched a campaign in effort to raise public awareness and express
solidarity with Sderot.
Here are
a few ways that YOU can get involved:
1.
Shelter Renovation Project: With the
expectation that shelling from Gaza will become sustained and require entire
communities to conduct their days and nights in shelters, residents of Sderot
and the Western Negev deserve shelters worthy of human habitation. The Western
Negev regional council has presented the Sderot Media Center a precise list of
78 shelters that are currently uninhabitable that are in need of repair –
plumbing, electricity, etc.
The average budget to repair each
shelter comes to $15,000.
2. Ohel
Yitzchak Synagogue in Sderot: On May 17th 2007, the ‘Ohel Yitzchak’
Synagogue, in Sderot, suffered the direct hit of a kassam rocket. The attack -
one of thousands - coming from Gaza, hit the synagogue at 11:30 PM, only half
an hour after over 300 people, who were celebrating the joyous ceremony of
bringing in a new Torah scroll into the synagogue’s ark, had left the premises.
Only the sponsoring family and some close friends were still at the synagogue
at the time of the attack. The Synagogue
is still not repaired- the hole in the roof is still there. Many who pray there
haven’t returned; they are scared because it remains unprotected. Total
Cost: $93,400
3.
Call the Israeli Embassy: 202-364-5500
Voice your concern over the continuous attacks.
4.
Write a letter: Sderot residents feel extremely abandoned by Israel and the
world Jewish community. They can use all the support and encouragement you have
to offer. A great way to show your support is by writing a letter to the
residents of Sderot.
Sderot
residents have 15 seconds to escape to
a bomb
shelter once a rocket is fired from Gaza.
What can you do in 15
seconds?
Checks should be made payable to the
Sderot Media Center and specify the project that you are interested in
contributing to. Please send donations and letters to: Betar, 2121 S. Green
Road, South Euclid, Ohio 44121
For more information, contact Betar:
216.297.ZION(9466) - dani@betar.org
