SPECIAL EDITION
Life Under Rocket Fire: Aleh Negev

How do you explain to a child with cognitive disabilities that he must take refuge? How do you prepare dozens of youngsters with severe disabilities for spending the night inside a shelter?

Attacks from Gaza have rained terror on the south, and Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran, situated in the Merhavim region, has not remained unscathed.  Loyal workers face a daunting task – they must deal with orders from the Homeland Security regarding their safety and protection; at the same time, they endeavor to maintain the routines of daily life so necessary for the special- needs residents of the Village.

Read the full story, as reported in Ynet  

Update from the Frontlines:

It's Day 5 since the barrage of rockets struck the Negev region, and visitors to Aleh have an up-close and personal view of the situation.

"I am writing to you now from Aleh Negev, where we are literally sitting in the line of fire… The situation is very hard for the children here, since they don’t understand what is going on. It is impossible to explain to them why they must enter these shelters, why they are not following their usual routines that are so vital to their tranquility...All we can do is just take care of them and offer as much love as possible, and do everything to ensure that they will feel safe and calm."

- excerpt from a journal kept by Yossi Kahana, visiting Aleh staff member

Read the rest of this firsthand report and other news and postings. Updated daily!

Cabinet Ministers Herzog and Vilnai Visit Aleh Negev to Check Their Needs

They are at the forefront of the war efforts, but Welfare Minister Yitzchak Herzog and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai took the time to visit Aleh Negev this week.  In between Code Red siren blasts, they joined the children and staff in the sheltered rooms. They expressed their amazement for how well the dedicated staff is holding up, hailing their stamina, courage and morals as examples for the rest of the nation to follow.  They also offered their ongoing assistance and support.

See Minister Herzog’s words of encouragement captured live in 30 second video

Staff In Desperate Need of Reinforcement and Support! See how you can help

Aleh Negev's staff is literally performing their jobs under fire. Overburdened and understaffed, they nonetheless devotedly care for the children 24 hours a day. With so much time spent at Aleh, and unable to leave their families alone at home, many have begun bringing their own children to the village.

"Orders from Homeland security are: 'When the siren sounds, [take whoever you can with you] and run to protect yourself.' But the workers here won't leave the residents alone while they run to safety. There is a very strong connection between the residents and their caregivers...none of them will leave their charges behind." 

There is a desperate need to compensate the staff for their increased hours, hazardous working conditions and to provide safe transportation to and from the village. You cannot put a price on love. But it is imperative that we recompense their extraordinary efforts, or our staff will be unable to continue to take care for Aleh's severely disabled children, already at risk due to the war.

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Aleh Offers Refuge

Aleh Bnei Brak, located in the center of Israel, is out of rocket range, thank G-d. Like so many wonderful families throughout the country, it has opened its doors and heart to children in need of a temporary home. But these are not typical children, and their suitcases do not contain simply a change of clothing. Read more