Since the start of the current Gaza conflict nearly two weeks ago, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has sprung into action to assist needy residents in the embattled Israeli communities along the border through our long-standing contacts with local charities and social workers. Given the many urgent needs due to the war raging in the area, the ICEJ has now partnered with CBN’s Operation Blessing to bring relief to as many as possible.

On Thursday morning, some 80 teenagers from the Sderot area loaded onto buses for a weekend reprieve in sunny Eilat, far from the daily Kassam rocket barrages in their home town. The getaway was arranged with Yigal Levy, director of the Keren Or center, which works with youths-at-risk. Thanks to the generosity of Christians worldwide, all of the youngsters that come to Yigal’s center were given a well-deserved break in one of Israel’s most popular resorts.

On Monday, the ICEJ-CBN partnership will sponsor a respite for 50 elderly residents of the surrounding Sha’ar HaNegev district, who will also be treated to four days in Eilat. The regional council informed us that over the past eight years of daily rocket attacks, many of the area’s children and families have been provided outings away from the frontlines of battle. But for these elderly folks, this is the first time most of them will have been given a chance to relax away from the constant rocket threat. A whole program of activities is awaiting them as well.

Then on Thursday of next week, we will sponsor another group of 40 welfare families from the Sderot area for a similar respite. Many of the local residents have already left the area, while among those left are many poor families who can barely afford even bus tickets out of town, much less hotels, meals, etc. So we are very pleased to give them a break away from the fighting.

These reprieves are much appreciated, especially since they come from the hearts of Christians, but they are just a sample of the aid we are bringing to this troubled area. For Instance, in recent years the ICEJ has donated seven of the 54 Operation Lifeshield portable bomb shelters that are presently saving lives there. Many more such shelters were given by ministries and churches affiliated with our ministry as well, including through Earl Cox and Israel Always.

We have also made a commitment to Yigal Levy to help fund a major expansion of his Keren Or youth center. The ICEJ is providing $80,000 to launch construction of a third story on the center. Eventually, the project will include a safe room, as well as a rocket shield over the entire facility.

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