Sderot Day on Ynetnews

Because of relative calm and ahead of Purim, Ynet has decided to focus for one day on absurd routine experienced by Sderot, Gaza-region communities for almost eight years now

Jon Feder |Published: 03.19.08 , 13:01

Dear readers,

Ynet has decided to dedicate this day to the residents of Sderot and Gaza-region communities.

The fragile calm in the rocket-battered region in recent days allowed the media and public to replace the “Color Red” rocket alerts with red graphs and dramatic figures from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and with reports about the global financial crisis.

However, those who live, work, or study in the Gaza region know that it is only a matter of time before we see the next wave of rocket attacks.

Therefore, precisely because of the relative calm, and ahead of Purim, we decided to shift the focus of Ynet readers in Israel and abroad for one day and focus on the absurd routine experienced by Sderot and Gaza-region communities for almost eight years now.

We decided to focus on the children that must study, play, and go through their entire childhood while always making sure they are no more than 15 seconds away from the nearest cover. We wanted to report about the small details that usually do not make it into the news.

In our many visits to the town and to the region we could not help but admire area residents. A person who has not experienced a “red day” in Sderot where dozens of frightening alarms cut short every daily activity – ranging from school and shopping to driving or going to the bathroom – cannot understand how absurd, difficult, and incomprehensible their daily routine is.

However, they keep going and maintain full and even normal lives. They gladly arrive at the Sapir College every morning, continue to cultivate beautiful farms at kibbutzim and moshavim, go out to pubs at night, and wake up every morning to the most beautiful scenery in Israel.

We are dedicating this special project to them, because they mark the good Israel of all of us – because they are us.

Today, kindergartens and schools across the nation mark Purim with costumes and celebrations. We hope that the children of Sderot and Gaza-region communities will also enjoy a happy and festive day, a normal day without worries. We wish them to continue enjoying the relative quiet, and on behalf of all our readers we present them with a warm embrace.