Israel

In December of 2008, there was a dramatic increase in rocket and mortar attacks against Israel that often reached one hundred and fifty hits per day. The situation reached a boiling point and the Israeli government responded on December 27, 2008 with aerial attacks to destroy terrorist targets, including underground tunnels used to smuggle arms, Hamas militants, and rocket launching facilities.

The new reality of an increase in rocket range transformed Be’er Sheva into a city living under rocket fire and Soroka Hospital, Israel’s second largest hospital, serving 1 million people, has virtually been placed on the front line. The hospital has even sustained direct rocket fire from Gaza.

When warfare in the south intensified, a Situation Room was set up that was staffed 24-hours a day by hospital executives, senior physicians, and nursing and administrative personnel. Surgeons, trauma and Emergency Room specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses and imaging staff were placed on day and night call – and stayed that way for the duration of the crisis.

The Soroka Hospital of Be’er Sheva is the medical facility that deals with every military and civilian casualty caused by the conflict in Gaza. It is not widely known that during lulls in the fighting numerous Gazans have been treated at Soroka. It is the largest hospital in southern Israel in a catchment area where one million of the poorest Israelis eke out a living.

For this reason, Ve’ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee established a Support Israel Fund in an effort to purchase much needed emergency medical equipment for the Soroka Hospital. Your support will not only purchase some or all of these items but will also go towards shipping and monitoring these items, as well as administrating the fund.

Ve’ahavta is strongly committed to lending its financial and volunteer support towards Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). This fund is one step in an ongoing commitment to Israel where we will be sending volunteers to provide the hospital with additional human resources to improve their standard of care while providing volunteers with a unique experience in a very diverse part of Israel. Please consider joining us in our Tikun Olam (repairing the world) efforts and show your support for Israel.