ESRA has been in the process of developing a relationship with English speakers in Ashkelon. Operation Oferet Yetzuka speeded up this process considerably. John Daly, ‘our man’ in Ashkelon, came up to the Raanana office on January 13 with Heidi Dabosh to collect 20 packages of goodies that were donated in response to our appeal, as well as toys and games for eight children who were in Barzilay Hospital and for children in the shelters, and three cartons of books that were donated by our bookshop. We also received donations for the Emergency 2009 Fund that we used to buy necessary goods to be distributed to wounded soldiers and to children, and for other pressing needs. We received the following from John that same evening.

Shalom ESRA

Heartfelt thanks from the Southern Front. There were six packages delivered to wounded soldiers at the local hospital, we put a notice in each box that it was a gift of thanks from the English speakers in the region together with ESRA. Prior to going to the hospital we picked up several toys, games and activities for various ages – the soldiers were thrilled to have some of the Hebrew books we were given yesterday. The nurses were thankful as well, telling us that it was nice to see people coming with practical things instead of just sweets.

We walked over to another part of the hospital where the children have been moved and passed out toys there as well. That was a sad sight for me, it was quite a bit below ground and seriously removed from the rest of the world. Here we gave the games to the nurses and asked them to pass them out to the appropriate ages, we picked up coloring sets, dolls, trucks and various games that can be played while in bed. Out of  respect for the children's and the soldiers’ privacy, we did not photograph ourselves handing them the care packages.

We then proceeded to a soldiers’ R&R point where we were directed to drop off the packages to be taken to the front. I asked a soldier to be in the picture so that could prove that we had actually delivered the packages!

Various parents have complained to us that kids who live near bunkers have activities brought to them. However, those who live in apartment blocks are more or less forgotten. We are looking into the issue to see what it would take to bring them a spot of joy. Rather than just buying toys and bringing them into bunkers we felt that perhaps this will reach people who have yet to be reached.

A very warm thank you from the South to our friends in the North, John Daly.

John and the other English speakers were under daily missile attack and were doing all this throughout!

A week later, the Ashkelon branch used some of the funds donated to the Southern Emergency Fund 2009, and distributed packages  to bomb shelters that they found off the beaten track.

Shalom ESRA,

The kids (in the bomb shelters) had a blast. It was great to see their reactions. Some, when asked, said that they wanted the war to continue if they would be able to keep getting games and days off.

Yishar Koach to ESRA. John Daly