With Passover around the corner, Chabad Sderot is preparing on multiple fronts. The number of families they serve increases from more than 500 low income families to over 600. In years of conflict, it is even more difficult as many working families have lost part of their income and need supplemental assistance.
Sderot, a low-income city just 1 kilometer from the Gaza border, acts as a buffer between Gaza and the rest of Israel. As the closest city to Gaza it is crucial to the security of Israel on its southern border. The people of Sderot are a constant target, living in fear of rockets and mortars, running to shelters every time the sirens sound, at all hours of the day and night. The IDF and Israeli government work hard to protect them, but they can only do so much. Many residents of Sderot (40% of them children!) already suffer from anxiety and PTSD from past conflicts. Many victims of this constant terror are unable to return to work, affecting their livelihoods and local businesses. Businesses are having to close. Children are once again living in fear and terror.
Chabad of Sderot has been on the front lines for 25 years. Our programs support IDF soldiers, the elderly, children, and the needy.
A Breakdown of Chabad’s High Holiday Costs
The holiday packages that Chabad provides for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur can feed a family of up to 10. The cost of these packages is higher than the food packages supplied throughout the rest of the year. Some items in the package include: grape juice,Matzah, fish, chicken, meat, cleaning supplies and diapers. The items have been purchased by Chabad or donated by generous donors. In addition, 100 care packages will be donated to chayalim serving on the Gaza front and 100 certificates will be given to families for new wardrobes.
Chayalim at Chabad Sderot
How You Will Help
These families would not have a chag sameach (happy holiday) without the help of Chabad Sderot. And Chabad cannot do it without YOU! We want the people of Sderot to be blessed with a Passover of health and happiness. To taste the sweetness of freedom and regain a sense of hope for the future. With the rise of violence and the constant threat they endure, they have experienced a lot of trauma in the past few months. The number of soldiers stationed on the southern border has also increased. Thus Chabad Sderot will host more than 500 chayalim during the Passover.
On top of the holiday packages and gatherings, we will be providing low income families with donated gift certificates in the amount of 1,000 shekels for new clothing. The total amount arranged is 50,000 shekel, approx $12,500. We would like to provide this same thing for an additional 50 families.So this year when you sit with your family at your beautiful Seder table, we can think about this holiday for what it is, Zman Cheruteinu, the time of our freedom. Because we can rest easy knowing that we have helped our brothers and sisters in Sderot do the same.
