Sderot grows in the shadow of Gaza
SDEROT, Israel—It’s hard to believe that the population of this city, less than a mile from the border with Gaza and with less than 20 seconds to reach a bomb shelter if a rocket is fired from the Strip, has actually increased since Oct. 7, 2023.According to city statistics, Sderot had 35,477 residents in 2023. Today, it has 42,000—an increase of nearly 20%.One of those new residents is Hila Malka, who was born in the United States and grew up in Beit Shemesh as the daughter of American parents.“We wanted to strengthen the city, and we fell in love with it,” she told JNS. “It’s a very warm community with really good people.”She works for the Reut Foundation, an NGO that supports the city’s residents with a variety of programs, including providing Shabbat food for families with a parent serving in the reserves and running a summer camp for at-risk…
Despite its proximity to Gaza and the trauma of the October 7th massacre, the Israeli city of Sderot has seen its population increase by nearly 20% since late 2023, now reaching 42,000 residents. New residents, like Hila Malka, are drawn to the city's warm community, with Malka stating, "We wanted to strengthen the city, and we fell in love with it." The Reut Foundation, an NGO, supports residents with various programs, including Shabbat food for families and a summer camp for at-risk children. The city, which lost 72 residents on October 7th, including 11 police officers at its station, now features a memorial at the former police station site and a coffee cart overlooking Gaza, established in memory of Capt. Shilo “Chico” Cohen, with profits benefiting the Reut Foundation. Sderot, founded in 1951, offers affordable housing, tax benefits, and a strong community, with many public buildings reinforced against rocket attacks. Lawyer Nir Kalfa, a Sderot native, emphasized the city's resilience, saying, "Sderot is a beacon of resilience, strength and hope."
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