Protect Our Men at Arms

(Today's blog is dedicated to our dear friend CR as her precious Yishai has gotten his call-up. I remember well dear Sister what it is like. Hugging you.)

Things have escalated here. Most of you already know that as you are following the news closely. And praying along with us. We appreciate your support and concern.

Because of the escalation, 16,000 reserve soldiers have been called to duty. Possibly more since the sirens have gone off in Jerusalem this evening. War here is an amazing process to watch. Our leaders make decisions like no other country in the world.

Hamas has placed their 'launch pads' in highly populated areas not caring who gets hurt. In order to minimize civilian causalities, the IDF has dispersed warning leaflets above several locations in the Gaza Strip. This video is from Thursday, Nov. 15, over Khan Yunis.

The Arabic leaflet reads: "Important announcement for the residents of the Gaza Strip: For your own safety, take responsibility for yourselves and avoid being present in the vicinity of Hamas operatives and facilities and those of other terror organizations that pose a risk to your safety. Hamas is once again dragging the region to violence and bloodshed. The IDF is determined to defend the residents of the State of Israel. This announcement is valid until quiet is restored to the region. Israel Defense Forces Command."
 

Rather than fire random missiles into Gaza in an attempt to stop this onslaught and the cowardly rain of rockets from there into Israel, the IDF is preparing to send precious soldiers in on foot in order to spare Gazan civilians. IDF commanders began Friday morning to brief their troops in advance of a possible ground operation in Gaza.

As parents who had 2 sons who served, we well remember... please join with us in offering continual prayer for our precious sons and husbands.

Hands of Mercy

Before we begin today's 'good report' from S'derot we want to remind everyone that November is
The 2 Spies 2nd anniversary and we are having a Celebration. We will be giving away a basket of Israeli goodies. To find out how you can win click here.

Someone has asked us what is in the basket. Let's just leave it as a surprise~ although after enjoying so many tastes of tea this week we feel certain that there will be some Wissotzky's Tea!

Yesterday's post was about the rockets pounding Southern Israel from Gaza. (to read click here). We promised we would share today 'A' positive side of the situation there.

As we know from the Tanach G-d is always taking horrible situations and turning them into something for our benefit. The example that comes to mind is the story of Joseph~ whose brothers sold him into slavery. We know that he was later used to safe the family of Jacob and turn what his brothers meant for evil into something good. 

We are presented with situations daily that are evil with the challenge to bring something good~ and Holy~ into that area. In Sderot there is a group that is doing just that.

'Hands of Mercy' is a group that began during the intifada to help those who had suffered under terror attacks~ civilians and soldiers alike. Bringing encouragement, support and finances when necessary Yishai Reinhart ( a Vietnam Veteran) and his volunteers faithfully visited hospital and homes~ day and night.

The 'Hands of Mercy' team courageously moved their center from Jerusalem into the heart of S'derot  in order to begin a vitally needed family crisis-assistance facility. "Tents of Victory" became a most fitting name for their center, in honor of The Almighty who has so faithfully has provided His great deliverance against our enemies.

The staff of  Hands of Mercy is busy with different projects from clothing distribution, to soup kitchens, emergency food packages, school lunches, home industries for those who have no work, therapy projects and offering entertainment for the children who spend too much time in bomb shelters.

Volunteer Cooks for the Soup Kitchen

"Hands of Mercy"

Yisha Reinhart & Tzvi with 'survival boxes'

Volunteers eating after the guests have finished

Portable bomb shelter

Hands of Mercy Victory Garden~ Veggies for the neighbors

Clothing Distribution

Cottage industry

The 2 Spies have visited Hands of Mercy several times. (One of those times was when we had to run for the bomb shelter) We are amazed at the diligence and faithfulness of each of the members and their great compassion for their neighbors.

If you are interested in helping click here

The 2 Spies

100 Rockets

We have had a marvelous couple of days of pouring rain~ What a wonderful way to begin our winter. With being inside nursing our colds since Thursday it's sometime hard for The 2 Spies to remember that there are other things happening in Israel.

The major happening is the shelling from Gaza into Southern Israel. This is not a new occurrence but over the weekend there were more than 100 rockets. It is easy to limit our imaginations as to what it must be like to live in such an area as S'derot.  The 2 Spies were visiting S'derot a few years ago (during the war with Gaza). The "צבע אדום" ( 'tzeva adom') alarm went off. Praise G-d we were parked right next to a reinforced bus stop~ which makes it an emergency shelter. They use a woman's voice to not be as frightening, but it is, to me, a little more creepy. The impact of the shell was deafening and there was more than one.

Just that one time experience has moved our hearts for the people of S'derot and the Southern regions who have lived under this threat for years. Remember, Israel forced 13,000 people out of their homes and gave the area away in order to broker peace.

We want to share this short video with you to give you an idea of what it is like. ( You will hear the woman's voice as the alarm) Please forgive the starkness (and language). Also our diversion from our usual positive report. If you come back tomorrow we will share a positive side of this situation~ and a way that you can help.

In the meantime, please pray for these precious people.