Hugs in Hadera

Hadera is considered a relatively safe place by its citizens; nevertheless, it has been hit by several acts of terrorism during the current intifada. One of those was a bus bombing in November 2000 that killed 2 and wounded more than 50 others. (In this attack, an 18-month old Palestinian girl who was on the bus with her parents was burned over 40 % of her body. Her father also sustained serious injuries.) Another was a terrorist shooting attack on the streets of the city on October 28, 2001 in which the terrorists shot at people waiting at a bus stop…killing 4 women and wounding dozens of other people. Yet another was a terrorist shooting attack on January 17, 2002 at a hall holding a bat mitzvah that killed 6 and wounded dozens more. Still another was a suicide bombing attack at a felafel stand in the city market on October 26, 2005 that killed five and wounded dozens more. As a result of these and other attacks, Hadera was on our list of places to reach out to. We were put in touch with the Head of the Hadera Development Fund and offered to donate a bounce castle.

The Grossman Family Center

This center serves children who are at risk as well as those who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by terrorist attacks. We met with the officials and set up the castle there on November 13, 2005. The kids loved it and the Director spoke about how beneficial it would be to their treatment program. Click on the link, “What Israelis Say About Hugs” to your right to read the letter that she wrote to us.” Then visit the Photo Gallery to see more photos.