Driving through the Judean mountains on the way to Sderot, I fall silent. And as I drive there, I look around in wonder and think: How is this possible? What a beautiful country this is: HIS country. Israel chooses life, why all the hatred? Israel is a tiny dot on the map surrounded by hostile nations, and yet it continues to exist. Psalm 2 states: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?’ God in heaven laughs.
And somehow, I understand it too. Let’s not forget that the fight is ultimately against the God of Israel. Israel and God cannot be seen separately: He is the Keeper of Israel. This is a spiritual battle. Pray for Israel and bless them, only then will we ourselves receive blessing.
Oh yes, I am driving to Sderot with a couple of friends from Switzerland. They have been stuck here for weeks and are waiting for a flight back home. In the meantime, they are traveling with me for a little while. We are alert, as always, and are prepared in case of an air attack. As soon as the alarm goes off, we know what to do: get out of the car, sit a little further away, hands on our heads. It still feels strange, as if it’s not real. And yet, this is life here now. Between the alarms, everything just continues as usual.
More than 200 elderly people and Holocaust survivors have received food vouchers, matza, and grape juice for the Seder meal. We are helping people to be able to celebrate Passover because it must be done; it is a commandment to remember and celebrate the feasts instituted by God (Leviticus 23). Especially now. We encountered sad faces, but grateful eyes. And at the same time, you know that tomorrow everything can be different again.
Today, a day at the office sitting behind my desk
In the background, I hear children playing in the little park behind our house. Their voices so innocent, so free. And then, suddenly, I hear the piercing sound of the “pre-alarm” on my phone. Within a few minutes, it is quiet. Completely quiet. No child can be heard. Everyone knows what they need to do; within a few minutes, you must take cover in a shelter. Even the children know that. And every time I think again: it’s terrible, really, that you must train your child for this in these times. Probably all the children I heard playing in the park live close by and got back home in time.
For days I have been trying to write this update, but I just haven’t been able to do so. The energy is lacking. The nights are short. The sirens wake you up, over and over again. It gives a kind of paralyzing feeling. But I also know that standing still doesn’t help. For me, the best way to deal with this is to help others. So, I continue to leave the house again.
A visit in Jerusalem
When I enter her room, her face begins to shine. A Dutch Holocaust survivor. It’s hard to know how much she still understands. But then I take a sandwich with Dutch cheese out of my bag. Her eyes light up. “How delicious…” she says softly. And that moment… that is everything. Just a moment of enjoyment. Just something familiar. Just a small piece of joy in a day that is often so empty. That’s why we continue our work.
Another day we visit a group of 15 Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem. We bring food vouchers for Passover. I ask cautiously: ‘Do you still dare to take the bus or tram?’ Their answer touches me: ‘We have to get out otherwise we will go mad between these four walls.’ We laugh together. It is warm, almost cozy. We are leaving, but before we drive away, the alarm goes off. We return inside and sit together again, but now in the shelter.
Another house call
They are sitting opposite me, visibly tired. “How are we going to manage?” “I have so much to do,” he says, “but… I just have no energy.” I recognize that too. They have five children in college. A B&B without guests. All the children are at home due to the war. The expenses keep on adding up. How do you survive this? We also decide to help this family. Three of the five children receive a study grant through Yad L’Ami.
That same day we receive a request from a school in the south: laptops for children who have none at home. School lessons are conducted via Zoom during the war. How are they supposed to learn without resources? Some families have 2 or 3 children at school and cannot afford the laptops. The school will keep these computers under their management and temporarily distribute them to those children who do not have one. We were able to hand over 7 laptops. They thank you warmly.
Yoël
Yoël, is a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, a poet and translator from Warsaw. About ten years ago, he moved to Beersheba to live close to his daughter and her family. Last week his caregiver went out to do some shopping. While he was gone, the alarm went off. Shortly after, a rocket hit his building and severely impacted his apartment. Someone broke down the door and brought Yoël outside in his wheelchair. His daughter found him there, confused and frightened. It was as if his past was catching up with him again. His hearing has worsened even more because of the explosion. We are going to help him with a new hearing aid and see what else he needs. But what touches me the most is that someone who has already been through so much has to endure this again.
Social workers are crying for help for the people who are still evacuated
Beersheba – March 2, 2026
A rocket strike right in a residential area. Thousands of homes damaged, hundreds of people evacuated. People who literally had to leave their homes with only the clothes on their back. Dozens of public buildings were damaged, including eight kindergartens, four schools, welfare institutions, and other community facilities causing chaos, fear, and devastation. Miraculously, there were no fatalities but so much trauma.
Beersheba, a place with so much history. The place where the ancestors of the Jewish people (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) lived and worked. And now it’s a place full of tension and distress that the enemy is trying to destroy. Via the local social workers, we are going to help 100 people with gift vouchers for clothing and food. We thank you in advance for assisting us!
Dear people, nobody can tell how this war will continue. We want to be honest: It is hard. Everyone is tired. We are sleeping poorly. The sirens keep sounding. We are constantly living on edge. And I know that if we do not keep our eyes on Him, we will not make it. The Bible speaks about these times. He is faithful, and we continue to look forward to the total redemption of Israel. That gives us courage and hope!
Today is Yad L’Ami’s 25th anniversary
I remember our first donation: 2,500 NIS. Wow, that seemed like a lot of money then! Today, we donate 25,000 NIS more readily than we did the 2,500 NIS back then. But that is only thanks to you. I want to thank everyone enormously for all the donations, whether made monthly or on a one-time basis, and for all the prayer and love. Many thanks to you all and all honor to our heavenly Father! He is our ‘EBEN-HAEZER’ – thus far the LORD has helped us.
Normally, we actually never ask for money in the newsletters; we only tell you what we have done with all those beautiful gifts, donations, and collections. However, today I need to do so. About 10 years ago, we got more than 5 Shekels for 1 Euro. Today the Euro is at 3.62 Shekels. That is a huge difference; on 10,000 euros (was 50,000 NIS) we lose 14,000 Shekels (36,000) today.
Would you consider giving an additional donation, with the mention: ‘EMERGENCY FUND’? We have 2 reasons: Yad L’Ami is celebrating its anniversary and at this time especially Israel needs us more than ever before. We can only meet these current needs with your help.
We wish everyone a blessed Passover.
Ria Doekes-Flier
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