I am writing to you at a very difficult time. Amidst all the uncertainty and tension, I feel it is my duty to let you know what an incredible difference your donation has made to the construction of the shelters at our three nurseries. The impact of this war remains devastating. The harrowing frequency of rocket attacks means that our community faces immediate danger several times a day. One family is currently living in the dusty rubble of their ground floor after the upper floor was completely destroyed. Another family, whose children attend our nursery and secondary school, is homeless and searching for a new place to stay after their home was destroyed.

A mother from our congregation told me a harrowing story: her 13-year-old son was home alone in his father’s flat when a rocket struck the building. He was, however, safe in the shelter and unharmed, but his mother, having heard rumours of a fire in that shelter, ran through the streets under a hail of rockets to reach him.

The flat of one of our longest-serving teachers was also completely destroyed in an attack. It is heartbreaking to see people who give so much to our children lose their own safe haven.

I am telling you these stories because I want you to know that your investment in our safety was not just a donation, but a lifeline. Thanks to the safe spaces you have created, the nursery has become a true sanctuary and a vibrant and comforting hub of our community. It is a place where our nursery staff gather to work with wood and tend the garden, helping them to maintain their resilience. It is a place where families who lack shelter at home can find a safe corner in the garden, knowing that a safe space is just seconds away.

On behalf of the teaching team, the parents and, above all, the nursery children, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your cooperation and for the security you provide us with during these extremely challenging times.

Lilach Dgani

You can support the kindergartens in Ramat Gan with your donation: Help here