Sderot yeshiva distributes toys to traumatized children

• Date: 08 June 2021
• Author: Arutz Sheva Staff
• Published date: 08 June 2021

"The traumatic effects of the sirens and the rockets lasts long after any so-called ceasefire goes into effect," explained Rabbi Ari Katz, the institution's director of public relations. "And this is especially true for children, an entire generation of kids who grew up under rocket fire experiencing the horror of the attacks."

The 500 student/soldiers enrolled at the hesder yeshiva (a five-year program combining Torah learning with Israel's mandatory IDF service) decided to give back, especially to those in need: On Sunday, the students delivered toys to children throughout the city.

"We handed out toys to religious kids, non-religious kids, kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds, really to young children from all parts of the society," said Katz. "And not only did this put a smile on the faces of these kids, but the hesder guys got something out of it as well."

Katz explained that the toys were donated by a group of families living in the Ramot, Jerusalem, neighborhood who wanted to do something for the children of Sderot, as well as by other donors from around the world who wanted to help the often-beleaguered town under fire.

Rabbi David Fendel, the yeshiva's dean, said that, "when the sirens go off and the rockets fall, the sounds of Torah from our Beit Midrash (study hall) drown out those horrible sounds."

He added, "But it's not only Torah, it's chesed as well. We are an integral part of this community...