Sderot, Israel

Carmit Milka and her husband, Oshri were born and raised in Sderot. Carmit recalls a wonderful childhood, where she was free and happy to play on the streets of Sderot. "My parents were poor, hardworking individuals. I  remember growing up, feeling safe and secure in Sderot. I was happy."

"Why can't my kids have that kind of childhood?"Carmit asks.

Their sons Noam and Idar, ages six and four, were not home when the rocket hit their home. The family had just left a half hour earlier to take the children to school and head to work.

The Qassam rocket destroyed the Malkas bathroom, which they used as a bomb shelter. Most of the families in the Malka's neighborhood do not have bomb shelters. Their is a public bomb shelter at the end of the street for families to use, but there is not enough time to get to it.

15 seconds....

"Even if I was an Olympic athlete, I wouldn't be able to get to the shelter in 15 seconds."Oshri said.

IMAGINE

A siren goes off, you have 15 seconds to get to a shelter before the rocket hits who knows where.
You have to re-route your whole life around a bomb shelter.

EVERYDAY LIFE

The children of Sderot are called the "Red Children" because they are raised knowing the sound of a red alert siren and how to respond. These little lives are filled with so much trauma.

There are a variety of ways this community is helping those who are traumatized by the rockets. There is a community theater that assists the residents to express their feelings and emotions through drama. During the process of preparing for the drama, they are encouraged to process through their feelings through prayer and counseling.

WHY STAY

When the residents are asked, "Why do you stay?" They respond, "If I move away, they will just attack another city." They live out, "love thy neighbor" by laying down their lives for other Israelis.


Video You have 15 seconds after siren goes off to get to shelter before rockets hit....



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