Buildin a safe room in Yameynu Kekedem Kfar Zeitim

On this past Sunday, July 7th, a farmer in Kfar Zeitim (who lives in Tiberias) was critically injured after being hit by shrapnel from a rocket launched by the Hizbalah. The rocket landed on one of the farming fields in extremely close proximity to the Yeshiva. We were overwhelmed with emotions by the many friends who have reached out to us, to see how we are coping and managing. We thank you all so much and we’d like to briefly explain what took place and the impact it had on our Yeshiva. Thank G-d, the Hizballah attack took place on Sunday morning, while our students have not yet returned from Shabbat, but many staff members were present on the campus and needed to find shelter in the safe room. It is at times like these where we must reevaluate the efficiency of our current safe rooms in a situation where we would be under attack with full capacity of our staff and students. In our permanent new building, which is under construction, we have a Beit Midrash and several class rooms which are used by half of our students. This building has two safe rooms (MAMAD) and we are in the process of building the third floor, which too will have a safe room, but this past weeks’ events have shown us that we are up for a complicated challenge. As I mentioned, the permanent building is used only by half of the students while the other half still learn in the other classrooms as well as in the carpentry which all of the students learn in. This is a problem because the safe rooms are a three- minute walk from this area, which would be a major issue in time of need, when over 100 students must enter the safe room in less than 60 seconds. The offices, the therapy rooms to mention a few, are also located at this distance and this past Sunday has taught us that the distance is extremely problematic and endangers the employees who many of them are not young and would not be able to make it to the safe room in time. In addition, the dorm area which has the dining room and second Beit Midrash is also 2 - 3 minutes away from the building with the safe rooms, and G-d forbid if the sirens go off (meaning missiles are headed our way), while the students are in the the dorm area, we will be in a serious and dangerous situation. The practical and correct solution is to build a number of safe rooms in the areas of the carpentry and offices and also in the dorm. The cost to build each safe room is 65,000$ and we are in need of at least two. Unfortunately, the ministry of Labor will not assist with this and therefore we need help. It is important to point out, that if there is an escalation in the region, we will be forced to shut down if we do not have these safe rooms built - and for our students this would be a tragedy. We kindly ask for your immediate help and partnership.