The Jewish Agency, with funding from the Israel Emergency Fund of the United Jewish Communities, is taking the entire population of 8,000 children ages 6 to 17 who live in the Sderot area out of the range of attack and letting kids do what they like best. From amusement parks to nature reserves, from water parks to concerts, and from touring the country to enjoying recreation with friends, kids from Sderot are having a great summer. (More about the program's funding.)
But why not hear it from them? Come back to this blog frequently to check out blog entries from different camps thoughout the summer.
Joel Friedman, a member of the New York and Miami Federations, together with his son, Josh, visited the summer camps in the South. The visit began with a tour of the Afikef day camp.
Josh observed the campers as they engaged in creative and cooking activities, and received explanations from the camp director Sonia Bouskila and from the counselors.
Some of the campers had just returned from an all-night activity. The children spoke of the highlights of their nighttime kumsitz -- singing around the campfire through the night, and the tasty barbecued meat that they savored.
The visit continued at the Sderot police station and Trauma Center 106. There we met with Shai Luski, who was at the side of the late Roni Yihye when Roni was struck by the Kassam rocket that killed him.
After Shai related his personal story, Joel presented Shai with a gift, a grant from the Jewish Agency Fund for Victims of Terror. The grant will help Shai pay for the rehabilitation he needs to recover the wounds he received in the Kassam attack.
Later on, we visited Sima Shkouri at her home. Her house was hit on June 18, eight hours before the cease-fire went into effect.
This blog entry was written by Ofer Baram, JAFI Director of Community Relations, Israel Southern Region.