Purim in Israel is joyfulness at the highest level.  Everyone, everyone, everyone is in costumes; each year the trend changes according to the times.  This year, it seemed as though Avatar invaded Raanana, as people freely walked the streets in incredibly detailed gear.   All Jews, regardless of religious affiliation are consumed by the overwhelming joy.  

This year, we decided to join the people in Sderot on Purim.  The climate there is different than the rest of the country.  Despite the external joys of the day, one can almost immediately feel the sadness in people's lives.  The people of Sderot have fallen victim to so much national tragedy.  Beneath their smiles one can feel the lingering affects of the trauma that they continue to experience on a daily basis.

Each and every person we met was so grateful that Operation Embrace remembered them on the holiday.  Aviva Tessler, from Potomac Maryland cared that scores of rich shalach manot baskets were distributed to people in need in a remote, less remembered part of our country.  The experience was different than writing a check for matanot Leevyonim.  It was real. People were moved to tears that they were not forgotten.  They felt joy knowing that there was a connection to people who care.  Even though we met with complete strangers, the contact was deep.  It penetrated deeply into the hearts of those of us who came to distribute shalach manot and those who received it.  Some people from Sderot offered personally made shalach manot in return.  When we came to one man's house, he had four jars of home made pickles waiting for us!  He was anxiously awaiting our arrival. 

Two seven year old boys went to a house which was beset with gut wrenching tragedy.  The grandparents lost their daughter in law in her ninth month of pregnancy and the fetus was miraculously extracted from the deceased mother.  When we arrived, the grandparents were holding this angelic one month old boy.  The seven year olds that visited the home smiled and presented the grandparents with a beautiful basket of shalach manot.  The young boys' smiles truly lit up their home in ways that they will never understand.  At the same time, this was an experience that the seven year olds will never forget.  

For the people in Sderot it seemed harder than most to crack a smile and to fully engage in the national joy.  But the shalach manot and cheerfulness of the folks from Operation Embrace brought the joy to people in need. For us, it was our most meaningful Purim because it extended the joy to a place where it is harder to reach. Operation Embrace brought us one step closer to understanding that all Jews are united on Purim.  We hope that you can experience the joy of connecting and participate in a trip to Sderot through Operation Embrace.  It is really meaningful.  The joy that you extend will fill your heart through a very special connection.