Hugs in BeerSheva

Located in the northern region of the Negev Desert, BeerSheva dates back at least to the time of Abraham. Present day, it has been termed by some as “the capital of the Negev” due to its rapid development all across the board. It is also the 6th largest city in Israel with a population of 184,500 according to a 2004 census. There are 81 schools in the city with about 33, 600 students. Until recently, the city had remained relatively out of the direct line of fire of terrorist attacks. But all that was shattered in September 2005 with two horrific simultaneous suicide bus bombings (not far from the city municipal building) in which 16 people were murdered and many more seriously injured. Hugs received a warm welcome as we met with the Head of the Social Welfare Department and other officials later to discuss how we could extend a helping hand to those who had been victimized by this attack. It was determined that Hugs would focus on the Nurit Absorption Center.

Nurit Absorption Center

The center houses new Jewish immigrants primarily from Ethiopia who remain there until suitable housing is found for them in various parts of the country. There are many families and more than 300 children there. One of the residents, an Ethiopian- Jewish mother of 6 young children, as well as a 20-year-old Israel woman who volunteered at the center were among those murdered in the double bus bombing attack. The Ethiopian family had only been in the country for one year at the time of the attack and the youngest child was only 1 year old. We were able to provide gift bags for each of the 6 children plus a stereo system for the family so they could have music. This family later moved away from BeerSheva to Netanya. We placed one of the bounce castles at this center also.