Hebrew Voices #32 – City of Rockets
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, City of Rockets, Nehemia Gordon journeys to the Israeli town of Sderot on the border of Gaza. With the help of Hands of Mercy, an international humanitarian organization, Nehemia brings you the real-life experiences … Continue reading →
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, City of Rockets, Nehemia Gordon journeys to the Israeli town of Sderot on the border of Gaza. With the help of Hands of Mercy, an international humanitarian organization, Nehemia brings you the real-life experiences of this war-torn community. You will meet the innocent people who have been suffering for over eighteen years from brutal rocket attacks, perpetrated by the radical Islamic militants who rule Gaza. City of Rockets is an inspiring message of hope, faith, and co-existence in the face of brutal terrorism. This episode contains sensitive material, which may not be suitable for young children.
I look forward to reading your comments!
Transcript
NG: Shalom. This is Nehemia Gordon and I’m bringing you a very special episode of Hebrew Voices. For this episode, I traveled to the Israeli town of Sderot on the border of Gaza. This Jewish town has been under incessant rocket attack since 2001. I spent the day with Yishai Reinhardt from Hands of Mercy, an international organization that helps the beleaguered people of Sderot. He took me to meet some of the folks who have been living for years under conditions few of us could hardly imagine. I spent the day in tears as I heard the heartrending stories of these brave people and was inspired by their unyielding faith.
If you are listening with small children, you may want to stop the program and have them leave the room. You are going to hear about life and death in a war zone, about what is really going on in Israel, and people the mainstream media will never tell you about. These are real people who are suffering and they need our support and prayers. What you are about to hear will build your faith and impact your life in a big way. It has mine.
This was an incredibly complicated episode to put together. Most of the interviews I carried out with the people of Sderot were in Hebrew. I had to translate their words into English and then blend voiceovers with the original Hebrew audio. I could not have done this without the masterful skills of my editors Ben Bresky and Danilo Vojnov. I also want to thank voiceover artists Richard Thomas, Karen Allen, Devorah Gordon, and my niece Aviva. I am very grateful to all the folks at Hands of Mercy and the people of Sderot who were so candid about their painful experiences and extremely generous with their time.
I’m going to start out talking with Yishai at the headquarters of Hands of Mercy. We met in his office, in the heart of Sderot, the City of Rockets.
I am here with Yishai who runs Hands of Mercy. It’s an outreach that helps people in this city who are struggling and suffering. I asked him why he’s doing this.
Yishai: That’s a difficult question. We started thirteen, fourteen years ago with a barrage of suicide bombers that were coming in two or three a week. The devastation within the lives all across Israel was immense in 2002. I went to visit the hospital with some families and their loved ones who were suffering between life and death. It broke my heart, because they were laying there… they were just innocent people, just caught by this radical Islamic hatred. They were victims. So I said, “God, if you can use me, Hineni!”
NG: Hineni. That’s what Abraham said when God called him. He said, “Behold, here I am!”
Yishai: And many other tzadikim (righteous people) throughout history said to Hashem (God), “Hineni!” So anyway, I said after that one exposure to some young kids who were just between life and death, I said, if I can help them God, Hineni!
NG: I was really impressed with the diversity of the people working with your organization. This is really in the very Hebrew sense “lesharet bakodesh” what you’re doing here, it’s “serving in the holy.” I was talking with one woman who’s a Chardei (an Ultra-Orthodox Jew), and I was talking to a couple who are Zionist Christians, and some other people who are secular Jews. You really have a diversity of people and they’re all coming together for the purpose of helping the people here in Sderot. This is amazing what you’re doing! So for my listeners outside of Israel, what has been going on in Sderot for the last 14 years? Tell us about it.
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Comments
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
Praying for the people of Israel. Thanks for this post.
And again this week the rockets are coming into Israel like thunderstorms. 2,200+ in 5 days is a flood.
You, your family & all of Israel are in our thoughts and prayers!
Folks here in the States do not understand what it’s like.
I will share this on FaceBook.
Messiah please come. Please!
Nehemiah I never tire of listening to the raw truth you put forth with each broadcast you do. I listened to the re-broadcast of City of Rockets and was moved to tears. All I can say is Im moved to jealousy in my spirit of Yishai’s dedication and meaningful life. It makes me rethink my life and the direction of which I should be going. So often we get caught up in things that mean nothing. This mans life was beautiful. I pray people will donate to this organization. Keep up the good work Nehemiah! You are making a difference! The redemption has started, Praise YEHOVAH
Unbelievable! What people suffer in war torn areas. I found the little girl to be absolutely amazing! Not so much as even a hint of bitterness in her soul! Too many times I have met people so filled with hatred for ethnic groups or race. How awesome it will be when the Kingdom of Heaven is established on Earth! In the NT writings it is mentioned that when GOD grants immortality to his people their memories are erased. No bad vibes and no bad memories in the Kingdom of Heaven. Praise Yehovah! ✡️ The Savior of the World.
This was incredibly difficult and heart-wrenching to listen to. I can’t fathom what it’s like to have daily activities which include making sure my family and I are within fifteen seconds of shelters.
Not only do I pray for peace in Jerusalem, I also pray for peace in ALL of Israel.
Same here! How amazing!
So true. You cant find in europa news something good about jews, only that they are EVIL they want to destroy human, That is agenda
It is NOT to be understood for an outsider that the Goverment cannot set its foot down to these terrible ongoing missile attacs. Is it not a war that is going on? Is it the fear of the international reaction that holds Israel back from action?
Very powerful. I pray for Israel daily and have for years. It’s almost too much to listen to the suffering if it wasn’t for their tremendous faith in God.
The faith of these people in the face of such terror is amazing. The media loves to portray the Jewish people as evil overlords. Too bad the media doesn’t show the love and compassion demonstrated by these victims. Instead of harboring hatred and resentment, they are demonstrating God’s love and caring for Muslims. May God bring peace to these people..
How powerful these stories are…I was moved to tears. The people in these stories stole my heart and broke it at the same time.
Powerful Hebrew Voices. I have been looking for ways to help and the Father immediately placed upon my hear that a financial contribution was something I should do. Thank you for this episode.
Nehemia,
So glad the you were able to do this interview with Ye’shi Reinhardt! Such a touching Hebrew Voices episode!
I met Ye’shi while helping at “The Love for Israel Conference” a number of years ago and he is doing such amazing work! He gave me a “mini Hebrew Book of Psalms” and a bracelet made by a widow [which I am also] with Israeli flag beads on it. Such beautiful treasures!
I share his business card information often with others, hoping in some small way we can raise some financial help and attention and on the plight of the people of S’Derot. I highly admire and respect the work Ye’shi does and pray for his ministry, as taking care of the widows and the orphans is so near and dear to my heart [and Scriptural 😉 ]!
Blessings on your continued and wonderful work my friend!
#LOVEHEBREWVOICES!!!
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