By Naomi Ammon

Over the past five weeks of intense war with Iran, most Israelis have been reluctant to venture far from the safety of their closest bomb shelter. Still, they are trying to lead as normal a life as possible, and there are always errands to run and groceries to buy. Yet when the rocket sirens blare their warning of incoming missiles from Iran and Lebanon, those caught in traffic must make a mad dash for the nearest shelter – and finding one has become a dangerous and stressful game.

Meanwhile, one-third of the nation live in homes without any protective rooms or accessible public shelters nearby. This is an especially acute problem for thousands of elderly Israelis who have mobility problems. Many panic when the sirens sound and several senior citizens have even fallen down stairs and died while trying to reach a shelter – including a 102 year-old man.

Thanks to one humanitarian effort, elderly Israelis who lack an accessible shelter in their home or building are eligible for week-long reprieves from the stress in a hotel with proper bomb shelters that are easy to reach. However, they could not make it to the hotel on their own, and getting there amid the constant rocket alarms can be quite risky.

In response to an urgent request for help, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has stepped in to sponsor the transport of dozens of elderly Holocaust survivors to and from the hotel respites in the areas of Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and Holon. Many have involved special transport needs in ambulances and wheelchair-accessible lift vehicles, while others have been fine going by taxis and private vehicles. And every one of these temporary retreats are much appreciated and well deserved.

Most of the transport efforts were in heavy inter-city traffic, with several involving very long distances and requiring significant coordination for vulnerable populations.

One touching example involved a Holocaust survivor in her 80s who needed special attention and care due to her medical condition. She and her caregiver daughter were provided a week’s stay in a safe hotel. However, she needed modified accommodations, transport by medical ambulance, and a heavy-duty patient hoist that is an essential part of her daily care and which needed to be moved with her both to and from the hotel. Most transport providers refuse to carry such heavy medical equipment. But thanks to an exceptional effort, everything was found to allow her and the equipment to make the trip so she could enjoy her time of rest from the worries of reaching a shelter in time.

The ICEJ’s support not only paid for her special transport needs, but also offered a safety net that allowed this deserving Holocaust survivor and her daughter to finally relax for a week free of stress.

The Christian Embassy is proud to be helping elderly Israelis reach safety, overcome their fears and disabilities, and find some peace of mind amid this war. It also is truly amazing to see how Israelis in general are so resilient and always choose life.

Please support our urgent war relief efforts in Israel, especially as we reach out to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society. Give today to our Israel in Crisis fund.