Healing a Fractured Community with Limmud

Last week, our group travelled down south to Be’er Sheva — to help a fractured community move on and heal from the tragic rocket attacks. The rocket attacks caused major damage to residential buildings leading to over 1200 displaced individuals in the area.

As Limmud, we stayed alongside families that were displaced, we saw firsthand what this really means - to leave your home in moments of chaos and trauma.

But we also saw something else; resilience of a community striving to pick itself back up with the entire of Am Yisrael backing them.

We set up stalls to distribute essentials — food, toiletries, clothing, linen, and anything else people needed to get through the day. As a group, we hoped to restore a small sense of normality in a chaotic reality.

Being able to help someone choose a fresh towel or a blanket might seem small, yet we are so grateful we had the opportunity to meet these people, hear their stories and help in even a small way.

We also went to the site where a rocket landed. Dozens of buildings in semi close proximity were deemed fit for demolition due to the intensity of destruction.

The building was still standing, but barely — windows shattered, balconies twisted, glass everywhere. We helped clean what we could: taping up broken windows, sweeping glass, and packing boxes.

There’s something surreal about standing in a place where, just weeks earlier, people had been sitting in their mamad, only for a rocket to have fallen by their doorstep. Amidst all of that, we met people who smiled at us, who thanked us and continually reminded us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. To show up for others and to learn through action, we really did get to witness the unbreakable spirit of a people who, even in their most difficult moments, keep moving forward.

Shira Gottlieb Limmud 2025