hillelsapir - English

Hillel Sapir: On the Frontline in War and in Peace

We would like to share with you an update of our activities with the children and the residents of Sderot and the western Negev since the end of the ceasefire in the south, and especially since the beginning of the military operation (on Shabbat, December 27, 2008).

Since the outbreak of fighting in our area, the Home Command instructed all schools in the region to close, and the children were told to stay in the shelters all the time, in Sderot, Netivot, and all the Gaza-border communities. We have been living with this difficult reality since December 27, that is, for the last two weeks, and it is extremely hard for the kids and their families. It is not easy to stay in a crowded shelter for a long period of time, underground, hour after hour and day after day, and of course the sounds of explosions and "color red" alerts only add to the level of tension and anxiety in the children.

To help alleviate this situation we have initiated and implemented two special projects over the past weeks:

Supplying equipment to local shelters

Thanks to the Sapir Hillel Sharing G'mach that was established several months ago, we have been able to collect hundreds of items from all across the

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Roving Films

Roving Films – Sapir Hillel students travel to the bomb shelters in Sderot and surrounding communities, carrying portable projectors and movies that t

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The Power of Tradition

For over 2,000 years, the Jewish people have been reading a Torah portion every week (parashat haShavuah) – regardless of where they are located

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''We feel the pain of every Palestinian child''

In the past few weeks, Sapir Hillel, with the help of dozens of students working under fire, began to collect essential humanitarian supplies for both

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Media coverage

Open publication - Free publishing - More usc

Movies made by students

Hillel Sapir - Wandering Cinematheque

The Power of Tradition - Radio Beit Midrash in time of war

A Humanitarian Aid Project of Hillel Sapir

The war on Israel's southern front in January 2009, which was caused by the increased and unbearable rocket fire from Hamas in the Gaza Strip toward the towns of the western Negev, created a serious and immediate humanitarian crisis. Hillel Sapir moved quickly to help relieve the suffering of the hundreds of children in southern Israel who have been experiencing rocket fire for eight years, and were forced to stay in bomb shelters for the duration, day after day. Student volunteers from Hillel Sapir collected and distributed vital supplies to the shelters (such as television sets, video machines, radio-tape players, carpets and rugs, toys and dolls), and brought a roving film crew to show movies to many of the kids.

As the battle abated and residents tried to return to their normal schedules, Hillel Sapir students began to organize humanitarian aid for the children of Gaza who became, through no fault of their own, victims of the Hamas terror organization. Due to the uncompromising terror of Hamas and the tragedy it brought on the Palestinian people, there is currently a lack of essential supplies for the children in Gaza.

Last week we collected hundreds of cartons of milk substitutes (Similac, Materna, etc.), diapers, pacifiers, baby bottles, warm blankets, dried food (rice, beans, etc.), and hygiene products for shipment to Gaza.

This humanitarian project has attracted great enthusiasm among the residents of the Gaza-border area – the same people who have suffered through years of kassam and mortar attacks. Hundreds of people are bringing equipment and supplies to our warehouse, to send to Gaza. Everyone congratulates us on this wonderful initiative, telling us that we are showing the world the real, humanitarian face of Israel, and that we are not waging war on the children or the civilian population of Gaza. We are showing the world that it is Hamas that is responsible for the current situation, and that Israelis are doing everything in their power to help the civilian population.

People from the area and from all over Israel are embracing and supporting this initiative, volunteering 24 hours a day. For example, yesterday at midnight we received a special delivery of baby supplies from the Eshkol regional council, which had been hit with hundreds of missiles in recent weeks. Here is testimony to the strength, the fortitude, and the humanity of the Jewish people!

We at Hillel Sapir will continue to do whatever we can to help the people on both sides – in Israel and Gaza – to work toward peace and regional prosperity. Because the children are our future.