Summer 2009 in Sderot

July 20, 2009:
40 terror victims from OE’s Foxman Post Traumatic Stress Disorder program at Rambam Medical Center, joined American teens at Kibbutz Lavi for breakfast and then for some interactive activities.  Roni, Penina and Chana, three extremely skilled social workers from Rambam, divided everyone into three groups and led the programs.  Each group made their individual introductions by tossing a ball from person to person, which led to all kinds of wonderful interactions.  The trauma victims from Haifa were so moved by the love and concern shown to them by the teenagers and repeatedly thanked Operation Embrace for their successful PTSD program.  One woman who was injured by a Katyusha rocket commented that OE was the first to provide assistance and the only organization who did not abandon her.  She said "most organizations come and go and leave people like me, with a less than genuine feeling of empathy, but OE is the reason that I am able to move forward in my life, OE gives me hope". 

The parents of Eldad Regev (one of the kidnapped soldiers whose remains were returned last year) participated in this day and it was so sad to visibly see their pain as well as inspiring to see that they made the effort to be apart of the OE group from Rambam.  There are pictures attached from this day.
 
July 21, 2009:
OE sponsored 50 children who have been diagnosed with trauma from Sderot, on a therapeutic day excursion to a beach in Rishon L’tzion where they were able to run freely and enjoy a variety of beach activities , including kayaking, beach volleyball and surfing.  Families in Sderot continue to live in fear and are always thinking about their whereabouts vis a vis the closest shelter to find refuge from falling Kassam rockets.  It was inspiring to see Corine Cohen, one of the 5 adult escorts for the kids from Sderot and the mother of Matan, a partial leg amputee due to the injury from a Kassam rocket, volunteering at this OE event.  Corine said that she felt empowered due to the love and support that OE has given to her son and wants to give back.