Operation Embrace Visit to Sderot
By Tamar Brooks

(pictured: Carmit, Tamar and Liyor)

          As we neared Sderot, my mind began to race; this was to be my first visit, and I found myself guessing at what it would be like. I was a bit apprehensive, but excited at the prospect of showing my support for those brave heroes that live out their lives in accordance with their staunch principles.

          Upon entering the city we met with Michal, a wonderful Operation Embrace social worker in the area, who showed us to our first visit.  We met a lovely family, who showed us into their home with open arms.  Liyor, Carmit, her father, and the new baby Shachar (1 month old) sat in the living room with us as we all got acquainted.  I was immediately impressed with Liyor’s strength as he relayed his story.  Liyor was driving his taxi on August 28, 2007 when he heard the tzeva adom, the code red alarm.  He ran out of his car to find shelter, when at that very moment a kassam rocket landed right next to him sending a piece of shrapnel into his right eye.  Unfortunately, the doctors have told him that he will remain blind in that eye.  He is a strongly built man and despite the patch over his eye he seems physically unscathed.  His injury, however, has almost entirely left him house ridden for he cannot go out into the sun. For such an active man this can be extremely debilitating and depressing. Carmit, his loving wife, is now left to care for her husband, 3 year old daughter Stav, and their new baby who was born just 3 days after Liyor was injured.  Liyor and Carmit were patients in two different hospitals.  Nonetheless, Carmit has maintained her sweet disposition and great sense of humor.  Her father helps out at their house everyday and has a very “it is what it is and hashem ya’azor” (Hashem will help) attitude.    This heartwarming family has truly rallied together to get through these harsh times and it is nothing short of inspiring.  As we left their house they adamantly insisted that we come back and visit. And, I truly believe that their door is always open.

          Next, we visited a young couple, Yaniv, Sima, and their one-year-old daughter Choshen. When the tzeva adom sounded on June 20, Yaniv was upstairs in their home and his wife and daughter were downstairs in the living room.  A kassam rocket landed directly outside their house and the propane tanks in the front caught fire, causing flames to shoot through their entire bottom floor.  Sima managed to run into the bomb shelter with her daughter, but Yaniv, unaware that they made it in, ran straight into the living room to get them.  Thinking of nothing but his family, he covered his face with his arm and ran into the flames. The door of the shelter remained open for him, and when he realized that his family was already inside he went to join them.  The shelter was sweltering hot and filling with gas. The family managed to escape through the window, and ran from house to house in search of shelter. On the way, another kassam fell and landed right near Yaniv. Only once he and his family were safe did they realize the extent of Yaniv’s injuries. Yaniv has sustained third degree burns on his arms, stomach, lower back and legs.  He wears a pressure suit on his burns twenty-four hours a day and can only take if off when he takes a shower. Yaniv has been in 4 kassam attacks in the last two years. He suffers from severe anxiety and cannot sleep. Since the pigua he has not ventured upstairs and always sleeps in the shelter.  He rarely leaves his home. It was difficult for him to talk about the pigua (terror attack), but he did so with the utmost strength and courage.  They are now trying to rebuild their home and piece their lives back together.  

          The last family we visited was in their home on May 15 when a kassam landed on their porch.  Colette had just gotten out of the shower in the bathroom adjacent to that porch. She had very severe injuries when the shrapnel went all over her body, and underwent several surgeries. Her children; Shiran (age 23), Dor (age 17) and Ofek (age 5) and husband; Eliav were all miraculously unscathed.  Colette was hospitalized for eight days and now looks remarkably well.  She and her family continue to live in their home and move forward with true strength of mind and character. 

          As we left Sderot I felt like these families had a done a real chessed for me; they opened my eyes to unimaginable fortitude, they survived through these difficult, tragic times with such vigor and emunah (faith) and still open their homes to strangers with smiles on their faces. It was Yaniv, however, that left me with the most powerful message of all – he explained that one of the most difficult parts of the whole ordeal was the lack of support he felt from the other cities and people of Eretz Yisroel.  As a member of the Ra’anana community that message really hit home.  Yaniv and his wife were so touched by the assistance that Operation Embrace has given them and especially with the personal visit. Although the heroes of Sderot are always in our hearts and prayers we must let them know in other ways that we are always thinking of them.  We must support our brothers and always who are there “K’ish echad b’lev echad” – like one person with one heart.