Day 17 23 Oct 2023
Last night there was an artillery barrage that lasted for about an hour. The windows were shaking and you could feel the concussion from the blasts. We have a constant trembling in our bodies from the situation and the stark reality that for now, this is our life here in Sderot. How long will this last, only YAH knows.
The ground invasion is still on hold or in the planning stages. There are so many different issues that need to be taken into consideration before it can begin, most importantly the protection of our soldiers. Most of the soldiers are old enough to be my sons and others are young enough to be my grandsons or granddaughters.
This morning there was an intense time of “Tseva Adom” alarms and explosions in and around Sderot and the neighboring cities. Since then, once again it is somewhat quiet.
One of the big concerns people have, is how they will be able to pay their monthly bills, now that very few people from Sderot are working. One bank is suspending mortgage payments for three months for people that live within a certain distance from the Gaza border, but for people that rent their homes it is up to their landlord about paying rent. Utility companies and credit card companies have not made a statement about how or if at all they will go forward.
We are still waiting to hear back from the medical group to see if we can pickup prescriptions for people in the next town over.
I heard an interesting fact. In proportion to the Jews who live in Israel, the 1400 people who were killed on 7 Oct would be an equivalent of 50,000 people being killed in the USA. So, you can see why it is such a devastating event.
I called my friend Pinchas to see how he was doing. On a good day his anxiety level is at 87%. Normally I am greeted with “Shalom Haverim” (peace my friend), but not today. He did not sound well at all; and he told me why.
On 7 Oct at 6:30 in the morning as the terrorists entered Sderot, Pinchas and his two friends were on their way to their synagogue. Their synagogue is just four buildings down from the police department. As the terrorists overran the police department, they opened fire on EVERYONE who was on the street, Pinchas was caught in the gun fire. One of his friends was killed, his other friend was shot; Pinchas made a mad dash for cover in a nearby building and escaped death.
Like I said, on a good day his anxiety level is at 87% and now it’s over the roof. More than likely, he will not be coming back to Sderot even when this war is finished. I wouldn’t be surprised if doesn’t even come back to pick up his belongings. He has presently moved to Jerusalem.
He will live with this mark, as a scar for the rest his life. I don’t believe Pinchas is the only one who will have long term effect from that Shabbat massacre and I am sure many will never return to Sderot when this is over. To have to live with the constant fear of Kassams is one thing but to have to worry about another breech in the security fence takes it up to a whole new level. We will do our best to help him relocate and get reestablished but what he saw on that street that morning, the loss of his friend and terrorists shooting at him ~ even with all the help we can give him, it will never be able to take those memories and fears away.
I know we are a humanitarian aid organization and we try to stay as such but I would ask you please to pray for Pinchas and those who have gone through this horrific ordeal.