The never-ending terror. A child's shattered room.

June 12, 2008 / 9 Sivan 5768

Terror recently escalated in southern Israel when a long range Grad missile scored a direct hit on a popular mall in the coastal city of Ashkelon. The Jewish Agency provided immediate assistance to the victims through its emergency SOS Fund.

The Hutzot Mall has been repaired, but the victims' trauma remains.

The SOS Fund is part of the larger Victims of Terror Fund, established by United Jewish Communities – Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod through their far-reaching Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC). The SOS Fund provides immediate relief of $1,000 to victims of terror attacks up to 48 hours after the attack; finances that alleviate their immediate plight before assistance from the government. The lengthy process of gaining government recognition as a victim of terror, and the bureaucratic measures involved, make it extremely difficult for these vulnerable citizens to get back on their feet after an attack.

"Jewish Agency personnel are intimately involved in what is going on in the region, and are prepared to respond with assistance to terror victims immediately," says Ofer Baram, the Jewish Agency's Community Relations Director for the southern region.

On the day of the attack, Toni Young, United Jewish Communities IEC Work Group Chair said, "I want to thank our donors for providing life-saving support for the Sderot region through the IEC, which even today, through the SOS fund, was able to extend critical assistance. This attack sadly reminds us how important it is for us to address these crucial needs of our brothers and sisters in Israel."

Independence Day celebrations out of missile range.

In the past few months, thousands of people have benefited from IEC-supported Jewish Agency activities that have injected new hope into the region. Over 4,000 people from Sderot and the Gaza perimeter communities were hosted by the Jewish Agency for Independence Day, where families enjoyed music, arts and crafts, games and food in a day-long happening at Park Eshkol, an area out of the range of missile attacks. The Jewish Agency has hosted large Independence Day events over the last several years, as the rocket threat has made it too dangerous to hold large outdoor gatherings in Sderot or the immediate vicinity.

However, social and cultural events can now be held at the Sderot Community Center, where the Jewish Agency has completed fortifying the structure. On a recent UJC Journalists' Fact Finding Mission to Sderot and Gaza Surroundings, journalists from Jewish newspapers throughout North America visited the community center and heard from the people and community service providers. At the same time, there was a moving art exhibition sent from teenagers in Kiryat Shmona to their peers in Sderot, showing understanding and support for their plight.

"The real story in Sderot is the story of life. Life is stronger than any rocket attack," says Sderot general director Shimon Peretz. "But many trauma symptoms are created by feeling abandoned and it is so important for the people here to know that others care about them."

In an effort to encourage students to continue studying at Sapir College, adjacent to Sderot, the Jewish Agency recently awarded grants to 3,000 students. The grants totaled $1.7 million, and students receiving the grants commit to 12 hours of weekly volunteer work in the Sderot area.

Roni Saban

Roni Saban from Kfar Saba will graduate from Sapir College with a degree in practical engineering. She received a Jewish Agency scholarship for students studying in the beleaguered region. As part of the scholarship, Roni volunteered with young Ethiopian students living at the Jewish Agency's San Diego Ibim Student Village, near Sapir. "I introduced the three young women to other Israeli students, took them out with us and made sure that they felt like they were part of Israeli society. It was great."

"Even though the Kassam rockets continue to fall - one day there were 27 rockets in 20 minutes - I love this area," says Roni. "When there are no warning sirens it is quiet, with lots of open space and opportunity. I see myself building my future here."

Nearly $16.5 million in assistance has been provided to the Sderot region and Gaza perimeter communities through the IEC. An additional $1.5 million has been allocated by UJC's Israel Emergency Campaign and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit to provide one-week summer camps out of the range of attack for all 8,000 children and youth in the region.