Arcadi Gaydamak - said he'd drop by as well
צילום: עופר עמרם
Business mogul takes in thousands for Passover
Arcadi Gaydamak to host 3,000 needy on Seder night in Jerusalem, Sderot and Kiryat Shmona. Single mother Olga Davidoff: 'If he didn't care for us, a lot of people would be celebrating alone'
If no Qassams fall on Monday night, hundreds of Sderot's residents will celebrate their Passover Seder at an event organized by business tycoon Arcadi Gaydamak. Similar events will be held in Kiryat Shomona and Jerusalem. In all some 3,000 people are expected to be in attendance. Welfare officials from the local municipalities provided Gaydamak's representatives with the lists of those in need who should be invited.
"I had started getting requests and after he formed his movement for social justice, I asked him to help host a Seder in the town and he immediately said that there was no problem and his guys will get to organizing everything," said Batya Katar of Sderot.
According to Katar the guests will not only be from needy families but also those who have no one to celebrate the holiday with. Guests of honor will include Mayor Eli Moyal and Gaydamak himself has said he will stop by towards the end of the evening. The Seder itself will be conducted by Rabbi Moshe Pizam.
Olga Davidoff, a single mother of five who lives in Sderot will attend the event, along with her elderly mother. "I heard about it and signed up. I have no words to express my gratitude and excitement. My children were also very happy when they heard. I think it's lovely, we need to say a big thank you to this man, Gaydamak. It's good that there are people like him because if he didn't care for us, a lot of people would be celebrating this holiday alone, and some wouldn't have the means to celebrate it," she said.
On Wednesday the Sderot protest committee against the incessant Qassam attacks from Gaza is scheduled to organize a day of activities for the town's children and throughout the day there will also be a family hike, musical performances for children and panels with public figures for adults. Sderot residents hope the event draws thousands of out-of-town visitors.
