War Diary from Southern Israel

January 15, 2009 / 19 Tevet 5769

I was so happy that Ben Gurion University of the Negev opened its doors and I was able to return to my Ph.D studies. Also, Sderot was filled with people walking on the streets and flags waving. One large sign read "One Nation, One Heart." It almost felt normal.

 Flags flying in Sderot. The sign says, "One Nation, One Heart."

It was great to be back on campus today, although there were noticeably many students missing – the soldiers who were called up for emergency reserve duty (Tzav 8) and mothers whose children are still not in a regular school routine.

Many students work to support themselves during college. I don't know how these soldiers will be able to pay their expenses after being in battle for three weeks. When the Second Lebanon War was over the Jewish Agency gave scholarships to the returning soldiers to help them continue studying, and I hope that it will be possible to do this for our returning soldiers at Ben Gurion.

Me (left) and my administrative assistant Idit in our office in Sderot.

I feel that things are starting to return to normal, even though the schools have still not opened in Ashkelon. Idit, my administrative assistant, and I are getting things under control with our programs and budgets for next year. Fewer rockets are falling, but sometimes we find ourselves imagining we heard a siren and running for the shelters. There is an optimistic feeling that this war may be close to ending.

I have been invited by Sami Bollag, a member of the Board of Governors and President of Keren Hayesod Switzerland, to speak at the opening of the Keren Hayesod campaign in Switzerland on January 25th. Sami has played a very big role in helping our Youth Futures and Net@ children deal with their ongoing trauma. Last June he brought children from Youth Futures and Net@ for a two-week respite in Switzerland. The children had a wonderful time. It was amazing to see how quickly some of the symptoms of prolonged trauma fade when the children are taken out of the terror zone.

One boy said, "Whenever I hear a rocket coming and I'm afraid I think of my visit to Switzerland and I get calm." I want to share that with the community and let them know the impact of the support they give for the Youth Futures program.

I also got a lovely e-mail from Louise Paktor-Jaeger, from Holland, a great friend of Sderot and supporter with her husband of the Youth Futures program in the city. She writes: "Every day we hope and prey the people of South Israel will survive this horrible situation. When will the terror from Gaza end? Thanks to your wonderful work families are not feeling neglected by the State. The work you do is so important. To give them some hope, to give them some care, to give them a feeling of safety.Your weblog gives a good look regarding your important work with the youngsters in Sderot. Menno and I wish you a lot of strength and do hope to see all of you in February."

My heart goes out to the mother and seven-year-old son who were seriously injured today in Beersheva when a Grad missile hit their car while they were on the road.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

Photo Credit: Ravit Ohayon-Michal

January 14, 2009 / 18 Tevet 5769

I couldn't sleep Monday night. I couldn't stop thinking about our soldiers who are still fighting in Gaza and because of them things are quiet tonight. I thought about Nir, our Net@ counselor, and other friends who are fighting. But, with all this, in the morning I woke up with an optimistic feeling that things are starting to get better.

Both children went to Ori's gan in the morning, and I was very glad. I was able to continue to work in Sderot. In the afternoon, I was completely engaged in a car call when suddenly I noticed cars and trucks stopping in the middle of the street, and people running to the side of the road. It seems that I'm really feeling like things are normal, because my initial thought was that it was an accident. And then I noticed that people were not running to the roadside, but to houses nearby. And suddenly it registered that I had heard a red alert alarm. I stopped immediately and ran quickly to a protected place. This was terribly frightening.

In the last few days, as part of our attempt to get back into our regular activities, and until we will have regular staff meetings, I check with each one of the professionals and coordinators in charge of projects in my region to see what issues they are facing and how they plan to return to normal when this war ends. The Youth Futures' social worker told me that she is in constant contact with the Youth Futures Trustees.

Tuesday there was a day of learning for all of the Youth Futures coordinators in the South. The main discussion revolved around the issues raised last week – the fighting in the South and its influence on Youth Futures.

Net@ graduates from Sderot and Eshkol at Amdocs.

Net@ graduates from Sderot and Eshkol went to visit Amdocs in Ra'anana. This is within the framework of their leadership year. They met with Net@ graduates from all over the country and it was a very special experience for them.

It is so difficult to do the normal things that we used to take for granted. My hairdresser is from Rishon Letzion, in central Israel, and it was no problem for me to go there to get my hair cut. However, given the situation he knew that I was afraid to leave my children by themselves, and he also knows how important my hairstyle is to me. So he came down to Ashkelon, risking missile attack, just to style my hair. I was so appreciative. This is a symbol of how the people out of the range of fire are trying to care for us and to support us in any way they can. It reminds me of how in times of need we are like one large family, all caring for each other.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

January 12, 2009 / 16 Tevet 5769

Today a UJC Solidarity Mission came to Sderot with 28 senior national leaders. The people met with Youth Futures children, Net@ teenagers and representatives from other Jewish Agency programs in this war-torn town.

The UJC mission was very moving. The group split into two, and I was with them when they visited the home of the Deri's. They have two children, one in third grade, the other in fourth, in our Youth Futures program. The mission delegates were very moved by the stories they heard from the children, and the representatives from other Jewish Agency programs, about their lives in Sderot. UJC announced a $10 million pledge for emergency assistance to towns and cities now under attack.

Me (second from left) with the UJC Solidarity Mission at the Deri house in Sderot.
Both children are in our Youth Futures program. 

I have been going to my office in Sderot every day over the past few days. There is a great backlog of work and we are trying to deal with everything, especially to finalize our programs and activities for 2009. Throughout the day we heard red alert sirens, and Kassam rockets that sounded as if they landed very close. But somehow it seems easier to deal with this when we are all together, my staff and I. We give each other strength.

Marci Galinkin from the United Jewish Federation of NENY wrote to me about the rally they held. They were very pleased with the turnout. Marci writes:

"The rally was good.  We are guessing about 300 people came, all in support of Israel (no protesters, hecklers, etc.)  There was much media coverage, both newspaper and the news.  It went for a bit over an hour; we spent a lot of time focusing on Eshkol. 

…There was also another event last night with Michael Bar Zohar that was changed to address the current situation in Israel.  Between the two, there were about 450- 500 people.  Our thoughts continue to be with everyone there."

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

Photo Credit: Ravit Ohayon-Michal

January 11, 2009 / 15 Tevet 5769

There was energy in the air today as some of the southern cities returned to school. In Ashkelon, the schools remain closed, but we are hoping that things will slowly get back into routine.

Our Youth Future Trustees at a seminar today.

We met with all of our Youth Futures Trustees this morning. It was wonderful to see everyone. Our social worker for Youth Futures in the South, Mirav Marciano, gave a workshop with Reut, the program coordinator in Sderot.

I told everyone of Jane Sherman's warm words of encouragement and her concern for all of us. Jane, from Detroit, is Chair of the Board of the UIA and former Co-Chair of the Israel Committee. She was one of the initiators of the Youth Futures program and was actively involved in its success. Everyone knows her and was very moved by her support. 

We are preparing for a UJC solidarity mission tomorrow, and it seems to me that we are slowly returning to our routine. Ashkelon has not opened its schools yet, so I have asked my mother, who is a nurse, to watch the children so I can return to work. I am trying to find other solutions, but it is so wonderful to have family close by.

A breath of fresh air at Nitzana on Shabbat.

Our Shabbat at Nitzana was great for the children. This getaway was planned by the Jewish Agency's workers committee and the administration, and I met many of the southern region's Partnership 2000 Directors; colleagues I have not seen in quite a while. It was fun to be together, and to see our children enjoying themselves. There were volunteers who took the children on hikes and kept them entertained with activities. On the way to Nitzana Ori, 3, asked if there were red alert sirens in the place we were going. When I told him no, he was very happy. But still, at night, he woke up every two hours and asked if the siren had sounded.

On the way home, as we got closer to Ashkelon, Nitzan, 7, was very sad. When I asked her what was wrong she said that she didn't want to go home to the sirens. That it was good when she was far away. I, on the other hand, was glad to return. In spite of everything, there's no place like home.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

Photo Credit: Ravit Ohayon-Michal

January 9, 2009 / 13 Tevet 5769

"I am glad that I have so much work to do that I don't have time to get depressed about the situation. But yesterday, for a short time, all the tension and pressure pulled me down and I felt close to breaking for the first time."

Wednesday night and Thursday were very difficult. The warning siren sounded at 11:58 pm and we all ran to the protected room in our home. The children couldn't fall back to sleep. Everyone was running on adrenalin. Finally we drifted to sleep and again the siren sounded at 2:28 am and we were all up for hours. At 7:30 am another siren. Missiles landed in a school yard, in a neighborhood – all day, non-stop.

I can't begin to explain what it is like to be in the house for two weeks, hearing the eerie sound of the siren day in and day out, running for shelter, trying to be strong for the children, who don't have school, and responsible for my work. Every time we do something, we have to think what will happen if the siren sounds. Will we have time to run for cover?

I took my children to play with their cousins, timing the travel with the 3-hour cease fire that was called to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. When I heard my children laughing I realized how much I missed that sound in the past two weeks.

Yesterday, I felt tears well up in my eyes. I couldn't hold them back. My daughter saw me crying and I didn't want to lie to her when she asked me what was wrong. I told her that the situation was also difficult for me, and that the most difficult thing is that I can't do anything to take away their worry. But I told her how proud I am of her and her brother and that they are handling the situation so bravely. Admitting our feelings and confronting them makes us even stronger.

With all the emotional and physical anguish we are going through, I am trying to bring our programs back to some routine. On Sunday, we will meet with our Youth Futures Trustees. Even those that are not in the region will return for the meeting. They are so looking forward to being together.

This week we hosted many solidarity missions, and the logistics of preparing this kept me very busy. Next week the UJC and Keren Hayesod are bringing very large solidarity missions, and we welcome them with open arms. For Shabbat, we are going to Nitzana to be with the Net@ students. All the project directors will be there. I fervently hope my Shabbat prayers for peace will be answered.  

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

Photo Credit: Ravit Ohayon-Michal

January 7, 2009 / 11 Tevet 5769

It is wonderful to hear that Jewish communities around the world are holding solidarity rallies for Israel on Thursday. Our partners from the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY will feature the Eshkol region, and will raise funds to assist vulnerable people living on the front line of war.

It was great to hear from Marci Galinkin that the plans for the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York's solidarity rally are going well. They expect several hundred people to attend, and the Eshkol region will be the focus. The evening will include a guest lecturer, singing, wishes from local dignitaries and prayers for the people in southern Israel. I know that Jewish communities throughout the world are holding these solidarity rallies and it touches us deeply.

The support from these rallies will help us to continue our work during the war and after. For now, the Net@ students at Nitzana are having a wonderful time. And the Youth Futures kids and Trustees that we took to Tel Aviv yesterday returned to their homes in high spirits. We are looking into organizing a meeting with all of the Youth Futures trustees from Sderot to try to get back into a routine and to give them a chance to speak about their experiences and feelings in these difficult times. 

Last night, as I was getting Ori, 3, ready for his evening bath, which has now turned into a fast shower, he begged me to do a bath and let him play like he used to. Things had been quiet, I consented. Wouldn't you know, five minutes after I put him in the bath the red alert siren sounded. I ran from the kitchen, grabbed a towel and ran to our protected room with him wrapped in the towel. My daughter started to cry and yelled, "When is this going to stop." My husband and I tried to comfort them. We told them that it will be a little bit longer, that our soldiers need time to do their job. I'm not sure they understand, but I feel that as long as we are here to hug them, and to hold them, and to tell them that everything will be okay, they will have the strength to go on. 

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

January 6, 2009 / 10 Tevet 5769

Last night, as I put my son Ori to sleep he said to me, "Mommy, what will happen if the siren sounds and I don't hear it because I am sleeping?" With tears in my eyes, I thought that this is the fear that hundreds of thousands of our children are now living with every day.

Today, we took 40 Youth Futures children from Sderot, Trustees and some parents to Tel Aviv to see the taping of a show for the Children's Channel. As I looked at the children, who were so happy to be going on a trip away from the terror, I remembered the fear of last night. I was sure that it also wasn't far from the children's thoughts.

At midnight we heard tremendous explosions coming from Gaza. We can already determine from the sound which side it is coming from, and we knew it was from our side. Two hours later we heard helicopter after helicopter racing to Gaza. It was clear that something had happened and I was hoping beyond hope that it wasn't a disaster.  But at 3:30 am my hope was gone. It was written on the Internet that some of our soldiers had been killed. I later learned it was from friendly fire. My heart is with the mothers, fathers and families of these brave soldiers. I feel that they lost their lives protecting me, and my children, and all the citizens in the South.

As I was remembering, we heard a red alert siren. All of the adults quickly got the children out of the bus and we ran for the nearest shelter. It is difficult to do even the simplest everyday things, like walking down the street or getting on a bus, without always thinking of where the closest protected area is. Thank goodness we were all safe and returned to the bus shortly after.

In between everything that has been going on, I have been in constant touch with the wonderful people from our Partnership 2000 (P2K) communities – Holland (Sderot and Sha'ar Hanegev), and Mexico and Northeastern New York (Eshkol). Over the years we have built solid, caring, people-to-people relationships, and they are so concerned about us.

Rod Margolis, Executive Director of the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York wrote to me: "We want you to know, and please share this with Chaim Yellin (head of the Eshkol regional council) and all our brothers and sisters in Eshkol, that we think of you each and every day.  Please let us know what is happening when you have the time to do so.  Warmest regards and with a prayer for Shalom."

Our friends in Mexico sent a letter in solidarity: "The Mexican Jewish Community is aware of what you, our brethren, are suffering during these difficult days. We pray that peace will come to the region and to all of Israel – days of routine in which children will be able to go to school without their parents worrying about them, parents will go to work without fear and the Arab-Israeli conflict will be no more. We send you our blessings for peace and a message of solidarity and support."

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon. 

January 5, 2009 / 9 Tevet 5769

I tried to get to the office in Sderot today to take material to prepare the Partnership 2000 reports. But a red alert siren sounded in Ashkelon and I turned around. 39 rockets have fallen today. I am desperately trying to get the 2009 budgets done so that none of our programs are harmed.

Another sleepless night between battling my anxiety about the security situation and the work that I need to do. End-of-year-reports and 2009 budgets are due, but I am unable to convene my committee, or get to the office in Sderot, or reach the local municipalities which are operating in emergency mode from control and command rooms. I am trying to do whatever I can via e-mail. I brought my children to my son's nursery school this morning. The teacher opened it for a few hours to give the children a chance to get out of the house. "Don't worry," my daughter said to me. "I'll take care of Ori." It's amazing how perceptive children are.

Ninety-three of our Net@ teenagers from Sderot, Eshkol, Ashkelon and Beer Sheva went to the Nitzana Educational Village for a week-long respite today. Nitzana is part of the Jewish Agency's Youth Aliyah network. It is deep in the Negev, on the Israel-Egyptian border, and our teenagers will be safe there. One of our Net@ technological counselors, Nir, was called up for emergency reserve duty and we pray for him to return home safely. We are working to arrange respite activities for our Youth Futures children as well. I hope that this will work out, as the trauma is taking its toll.

The red alert siren has been sounding on and off all day. Sometimes, there is no siren warning before a missile falls and this is the scariest thing of all. Despite our soldiers being in Gaza, the missiles keep coming. The anxiety doesn’t lessen. Today was my younger sisters' birthday. She lives near Beer Sheva. We always took celebrating together for granted. But sadly, none of us went to celebrate with her today as we are all living in missile range.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon. 

January 4, 2009 / 8 Tevet 5769

I couldn't sleep last night. I couldn't stop thinking about our soldiers that went into battle in Gaza with a vicious enemy. I couldn't stop thinking about Gilad Shalit's mother, and all the other mothers whose sons went to war and are praying that they will return.

Our army is a citizen's army. Our country is small. Everyone knows someone whose son, husband, father or brother went to war last night. I am grateful that my children are with me, that I can hug them and hold them and feed them and ease their fears during these difficult days. So many other mothers today do not have that privilege. So many do not know if their sons will come home to them.

On Friday evening, the Sabbath came with a red alert siren and a deafening boom as another missile crashed into our area. I lit the Sabbath candles with shaking hands and prayed that this nightmare would come to an end. On Saturday, we saw Israeli pilots flying overhead, leaving a stream of sky-writing in their wake. I told my children that one of the pilots was a co-worker of mine and he was sending a sign to tell us that everything was going to be OK. The children put on their sunglasses as if they were going for a hike and ran to the porch to wave to the pilots. I didn't have the heart to tell them to run inside in case a missile fell.

Today, a delegation from the UJC Israel office in Jerusalem came to assess needs. I left my children, although they begged me not to go. I knew that they were home with my husband and this settled me. I was needed in the field. I had no fear for myself, only a sense of responsibility for what I needed to do.

The delegation visited the Barnea Absorption Center, where new immigrants from Ethiopia live. They saw how volunteers and social workers are trying to keep the children busy in the bomb shelters. One little boy said, "I feel safe here. This is my home." They met with Youth Futures Trustees who are developing creative ways to be in touch with the children, and Net@ counselors. They saw the need to equip the bomb shelters with heaters, activity kits for the children, first aid kits, televisions, and emergency lights when everyone needs to run to the shelter in the middle of the night.

There is so much anxiety everywhere. But we all know that it is nothing compared to what our soldiers must be going through as they fight to defend us. Our prayers are with them.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

January 2, 2009 / 6 Tevet 5769

At 7:50 this morning, instead of an alarm clock we were awakened by the red alert siren. Four missiles crashed into Ashkelon.

This situation feels surrealistic; waking up to missiles falling and running for cover. Always thinking where the closest place is to run for cover. Yesterday afternoon I went shopping in Kiryat Malachi. We heard the red alert siren and raced to my sister's bomb shelter close by. For the rest of the afternoon, missiles rained on Ashkelon and Ashdod. We were barely able to drive back to our house with the children in the evening.

Yesterday, I spoke with all of the Youth Futures Trustees. These Trustees accompany and support children at risk on a daily basis. They have been in touch with the children and their families. They listen to them, give them the chance to express their anxiety and fear and help them to stay calm. Two of the Trustees went to nearby public bomb shelters to run activities to keep the children busy.

There was a special workshop for the Trustess from Sderot, the Gaza perimeter communities, Netivot, Ofakim, Kiryat Gat and Be'er Sheva to learn how to help the children and families deal with the intense stress and constant fear.

In conversations with the municipal leaders, they told me of their need for programs to get the children out of danger and offer them respite activities, for additional portable bomb shelters and basic supplies for existing shelters.

During these extraordinarily difficult times, our work becomes even more important as we try to maintain communal social structures. My colleagues, lay leaders and staff are working tirelessly to help the people in the South deal with the unbelievable reality of being on the front line of war.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

January 1, 2009 / 5 Tevet 5769

Yesterday missiles hit Beersheva. I desperately tried calling my sister, who lives nearby. But when a missile falls, the cell phones don't work. I was frantic. Now, my whole immediate family is in missile range.

We are listening to the orders from the Home Front Command and staying inside, ready to run to our bomb shelter in seconds. The streets are empty. We have not gone food shopping for days and our supplies are dwindling. My husband finally decided that he would run out to get a few things.

Two minutes after he left, the red alert siren sounded. Nitzan, 7, and Ori, 3, dashed to our bomb shelter. With military-like precision they knelt down and put their hands over their heads, as they had learned. Suddenly, Nitzan screamed, "Where's Daddy? Where's Daddy? He's outside." I couldn't calm her down. In the midst of this we heard a huge explosion. I tried calling my husband. Again, the lines were down. I was panic-stricken, but knew that I had to hold myself together for the children.

My husband walked in a few minutes later. It felt like hours. He was OK. He had hidden between two cars. The missile fell closeby. I feel the tension taking its toll. But I know we have to be strong. Our future hangs in the balance. 

My staff and I are in constant contact with each other, and with municipal leaders, to see what needs to be done in the field. I am especially proud of our Net@ students. They are taking everything they have learned and using it to help others. With their computer skills (the Net@ program certifies talented high school students from the periphery as internationally recognized computer technicians and network operators) they help man the vital control and command centers in their cities. They organize activities for youngsters and keep them busy during the long hours in the bomb shelters. They receive so much from Net@, and now they are giving back with all their heart.

These youth are our next generation. Their strength will determine Israel's future. 

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.

The Grad missile that fell in Ashkelon near my home at 5:30 am Shabbat morning changed our entire reality. I now understand the torment of the mothers in Sderot who are helpless to protect their children…

Exactly a week ago I had a terrible nightmare. I dreamt that a missile fell on my home and I couldn't protect my children. I was frozen with terror. On Shabbat morning, that nightmare was here. I heard the war planes sweeping across the sky and my heart skipped a beat. I turned to my husband and said in English, so my young children wouldn't understand, "This is the beginning." I then turned to my three-year-old son Ori and my seven-year-old daughter Nitzan and said, "Don't worry, this is our army protecting us."

I have 100 percent trust in our army. I am not afraid for myself. But I am terrified for my children. And my heart is torn in half as I try to balance my responsibilities as a mother and as a working woman. As the director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev, my staff and I are responsible for the children of Youth Futures, the Net@ pupils and the children and youth in Partnership 2000 (P2K) programs who have been suffering on the frontline for over eight years. They desperately need our help.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal with her two young children, Ori, 3, and Nitzan, 7.

But when my daughter calls me crying, and my son's kindergarten teacher calls to tell me to come pick him up as a rocket fell less than a quarter of a mile from the school, I want to rush home and protect them. It is a harrowing situation. But I need to stay strong, my staff people need to stay strong – for our children and the children we care for everyday.

Today, the Home Front Command gave orders to all residents to stay within close range of protected areas so that we can run for shelter within 30 seconds. My staff and I were on the phone with the children in our programs, making sure that they were OK and planning possible activities to take them out of the range of fire, if budget allows.

Tensions are high. More than one missile has fallen very close to my home. We are in a life and death situation, fighting for our survival. We must prevail if we ever want to live in peace.

Ravit Ohayon-Michal is director of the Jewish Agency's Israel Department activities in Sderot, Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev. She lives in Ashkelon.