El Ami: Embracing the Gaza Evacuees

Dear supporters and Friends, The first weeks of the war have been exceedingly difficult to bear. The yeshiva in Eilat has had to bury four heroic fighters who fell in battle: Shilo Cohen, Hy”d Dr. Eitan Neeman, Hy”d Yochai Dochan, Hy”d Shilo Raucherberg, Hy”d Each of them fought courageously and died sanctifying God’s name. We wept as we buried them. But the war continues, and the soldiers of Eilat, together with the entire Israel Defense Forces, are preparing for a tough ground war in the Gaza Strip. In Eilat as well, there hasn’t been a moment’s rest. Around 55,000 residents of the Gaza-area communities have fled the battle zone and come to our city, many with just the clothes on their backs. Some are being put up in hotels, while others are being hosted by our community or in homes in the region. The day after the attacks we set up an operations room to help provide the goods and services these thousands of people need. We are hosting hundreds of people in the yeshiva, we’ve purchased food, clothing, and toiletries, and organized activities for both the children and parents. We’re doing all we can to embrace our brothers and sisters who have suffered an inconceivable trauma, including those who have lost family members. We are experiencing an unprecedented and extreme situation. I ask you to be a partner in financing this important mission. It would be much appreciated!! Aharon Ackerman