These days in Israel, life can change in a moment. One sound is all it takes—the sharp, urgent cry of a siren—and everything pauses. In cities like Ashdod and Ashkelon, where our Beit Hallel community serves, this has become a familiar reality. Families may be sitting down to eat, children getting ready for bed, or someone finally resting after a long day. Then the siren sounds, and within seconds people are moving—leaving their homes, rushing down stairwells, making their way to underground shelters.
For many, those shelters are not part of their buildings. They are shared spaces—simple concrete rooms beneath the ground, designed only to protect. But while they provide safety, they are not places prepared for long hours, especially during the night.
When we began visiting these shelters during times of heavy sirens, we saw something that stayed with us. People had protection, but no comfort. There were no mattresses, no pillows, no blankets. Families sat on hard floors. Elderly people struggled to remain standing. Parents tried to calm their children while waiting for the all-clear, knowing the same routine might repeat again the next night.
It was a simple need, but a heavy one. So we began to respond in a simple way—we brought comfort.
Through your prayers and support, our team started delivering mattresses, pillows, blankets, and even small things like board games into shelters across Ashdod. The goal was not complicated. We wanted to turn these cold, empty spaces into places where people could rest, even in the middle of uncertainty.
And the impact has been very real.
A mattress allows someone elderly to lie down instead of standing for hours. A pillow gives a tired parent a moment of rest. A small game can shift the atmosphere for children, helping them laugh, even while sirens continue outside.
In one of the shelters, a resident shared something that stayed with us. With genuine gratitude, he said, “Thank you to everyone who supports this. Especially during these difficult times. Before, we were standing here for long periods. Now we can sit, we can rest. There are pillows, blankets… thank you for your care. It means so much.”
That is exactly what this is about.
In times like these, people do not only need safety. They need to know they are seen. When someone enters a shelter and finds a mattress, a blanket, something prepared for them, it speaks without words: you are not alone.
We hear this often from those we serve. These small additions change the atmosphere. What was once a cold underground space begins to feel different—more human, more personal. Families gather more closely. Children settle. People breathe a little easier as they wait.
This is what we believe God has called us to do in this season.
When the sirens sound, love does not wait—it moves first.
Every mattress placed, every blanket given, every small act of care carries something greater than itself. It brings comfort, but it also brings hope. And often, it opens hearts in ways we cannot immediately see.
None of this happens without you.
Your prayers carry us. Your encouragement strengthens us. And your support makes it possible to respond in real, practical ways, day after day.
If you would like to continue standing with us, here are a few ways to help:
- $50 provides a food basket for a family in need
- $60 provides a mattress for someone spending nights in shelters
- Support toward our $35,000 annual shelter rent and utilities helps keep these spaces open and available throughout this season
We are truly grateful. More than we can fully express.
During these days, it does not feel like we are walking through this alone. It feels like we are walking together.
In gratitude and blessing,
Pastor Israel Pochtar
