Itzik, Shani and their son

When the siren went off in Be’er Sheva, Itzik wasn’t home. So Shani grabbed their nine-month-old son and hurried down to their apartment building’s communal shelter for safety to wait out the warning.

While there, there was an intense blast that sounded close. But nothing could’ve prepared Shani for what waited when she emerged with her baby.

Shani and Itzik’s entire home had been destroyed, everything in it broken and rendered unusable, due to a missile shockwave.

Suddenly, they found themselves without somewhere to live, displaced. No personal belongings, clothes, daily necessities, or essentials for the baby. Everything was gone in an instant.

Fortunately, The Jewish Agency ensured they did not face the aftermath alone. Shortly after the missile strike, a representative from The Jewish Agency’s Roaring Lion Fund was there to offer an immediate grant to assist the family.

“The grant helped us tremendously. In a situation where in one second you have nothing, any help is incredibly meaningful,” shared Itzik. “The grant arrived quickly and helped us with the most basic needs. Every dollar, every bit of help, matters in a situation like this.”

And for Itzik, it only further demonstrates the incredible support The Jewish Agency provides. He made Aliyah from Mexico as a child, thanks to The Jewish Agency. Knowing the organization was there to help him again now, during this conflict, and that Jews around the world are offering the strength and solidarity of the global Jewish community, he feels grateful.

“I came to this country through The Jewish Agency, and for me, this closes a circle — to come to the Jewish state, to immigrate here, and to know that in moments of crisis, I have support here,” he reflected.