Posted to Shlichus on
By Tamar Runyan

The sidewalk in front of Be’er Sheva’s Soroka Medical Center, where many of Israel’s injured soldiers are being treated, was almost deserted Sunday. A sign on the fence outside, far right, was posted by the city’s Chabad-Lubavitch center. It reads: “Faith is our strength, our tradition, our force. We will unite, we will be strong, we will win.”

As Israel entered its third week of sustained fighting in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, several communities in the country’s south allowed schools to resume, albeit in bomb shelters. But while the change in posture came after the Home Front Command downgraded the risk from Palestinian-fired rockets, two long-range Grad-type rockets struck Be’er Sheva on Sunday as high school juniors and seniors resumed studying for their matriculation exams.

Schools Open Amid Rocket Fire as Israeli Offensive Heads Into Week Three

By Tamar Runyan

The sidewalk in front of Be’er Sheva’s Soroka Medical Center, where many of Israel’s injured soldiers are being treated, was almost deserted Sunday. A sign on the fence outside, far right, was posted by the city’s Chabad-Lubavitch center. It reads: “Faith is our strength, our tradition, our force. We will unite, we will be strong, we will win.”

As Israel entered its third week of sustained fighting in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, several communities in the country’s south allowed schools to resume, albeit in bomb shelters. But while the change in posture came after the Home Front Command downgraded the risk from Palestinian-fired rockets, two long-range Grad-type rockets struck Be’er Sheva on Sunday as high school juniors and seniors resumed studying for their matriculation exams.

In Ashdod, grade schools throughout the city opened in secure locations. The school run by Chabad-Lubavitch of Ashdod split its students across four shelters for a shortened school day, but with the war continuing unabated, some parents have already made the difficult decision to send their children to schools in other locations throughout Israel.

Schools also opened in Sderot, the town just kilometers from Gaza that has been targeted by rocket crews for the past eight years. But according to Rabbi Moshe Ze’ev Pizem, director of the Chabad-Lubavitch center there, just 10 percent of the students reported for classes.

Those who came proved once more that they’ve grown accustomed to the almost constant threat of attack when the air raid sirens sounded three times in a row.

“The kids here are professionals when they hear the siren,” said Pizem. “They know how to get to the shelters quickly. Unfortunately, that’s become their specialty.”

Article continued at Chabad.org

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One Comment

  • simcha

    As a resident of Ashdod, Israel we are praying that the crisis will end soon especially for the kids who have been stuck in doors for weeks now. Kol Hakavod To Tzhal. Hashem has performed unbelievable miracles and we thank him on a daily basis. Lets all pray this crisis will end soon and may we merit the coming of moshiach.