Chabad Ashkelon: Fighting Back

The residents of southern Israel have been under constant rocket fire for over a week now, with many thousands living in bunkers without even the most basic of human comforts. With the beginning of Israel’s attack on Gaza, Rabbi Mendel Lieberman, shliach to the city of Ashkelon, immediately called his troops to action. Sometimes the only cars seen on the deserted roads of Ashkelon are those carrying bochurim from bunker to bunker, passing out tehillims to the adults, toys and games to the children and food for those who had no way to cook.

Chabad of Ashkelon operates several of their social outreach programs during peacetime from within the municipality’s bunkers throughout the city. In anticipation of potential conflict, Chabad Ashkelon had already prepared the bunkers with a homelike atmosphere, bringing in beds, installing heating to fight against the winter cold and in general trying to create as comfortable an environment as possible. In spite of the attacks shiyurim are still taking place in bunkers throughout the city.

Rabbi Lieberman prepared an article for the local papers calling on all residents to come together in prayer, tzadoka and to take upon themselves more of the mitzvos. Together we can bring light to the darkness of the times.