The Sderot Heritage Center A Community of Courage American Friends of Sderot בס”ד We are proud to present our plans for the establishment of the Sderot Heritage Center. The city of Sderot, from the time it was founded and even more so in recent years, has become an icon of Zionist pioneering, fortitude and courage. We are convinced that Sderot has a stirring and vital story to tell of great national significance and has carved out a unique niche in the pantheon of Israel’s miraculous stories of renewal and redemption. From the day it was founded the “Lapid” Association has made social involvement its motto, focusing on the strengthening of Sderot and stressing unity and co-existence within the various sectors of Israeli society. We have no doubt that the center will serve as a common ground for Sderot’s diverse communities with specific and comprehensive objectives: Bringing together religious, traditional and secular Jews; Deepening the connection and respect for new immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia and for their legendary self-sacrifice in making aliyah to Israel; Closing the generation gap by bolstering the pride of young people in their parents and grandparents, the founding generations of Sderot; Uniting the Gaza Strip border communities - who have been bravely facing ongoing attack for a long time - with each other and with the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces who protect them. What binds us all together? It is the common narrative of the authentic devotion and straightforward Jewish self-sacrifice of the people of Israel to each other and to the land of Israel. This will be the central theme of ”The Sderot Heritage Center – A Community of Courage”. We have spent the last few months vigorously pursuing our dream of planning and implementing this program. A steering committee was established, headed by Mr. Mordechai “Suli” Eliav, Director- General of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation; Mr. Reuven Pinsky, Director of the Prime Minister’s Heritage sites development program and Sderot Mayor David Bouskila, who together with Sderot educators, residents and professionals, have had many brainstorming sessions, tirelessly working to develop the detailed plans that will turn our dreams into reality. The Lapid Association and its U.S. affiliate - American Friends of Sderot have an unparalleled record of achievement in Sderot. Our towering, beautiful institutions and tireless involvement in so many of Sdeort’s educational and social needs make us the natural choice to spearhead this amazing project which will have great significance and educational value for generations to come and will bolster the image of Sderot in the eyes of one and all. We are excited about the opportunity to share with you the special honor of becoming A Community partners in this special dream of community and courage. of Courage Respectfully yours, Rabbi David Fendel Yossi Baumol Dean, Lapid Association Institutions Director, American Friends of Sderot Amutat Lapid-Afikei Daat PO Box 52 Sderot Tel. 08-6611360 Fax.08-6610814 Amuta No. 58-031484-7 [email protected] American Friends of Sderot 49 Dakota St. Passaic NJ 07055 718-673-4945 [email protected] www.sderot.org 2 3 Introduction SDEROT – A Community of Courage 5 Introduction Sderot – A Community of Courage 8 Courage Personified – Miriam Peretz 10 Themes of Courage 12 Historical Overview Sderot, originally established as a Jewish refugee camp near the city, to commune with the quiet and natural courage of Sderot - Pioneers and Heroes – Dr. Aaron Cohen the Gaza strip over 60 years ago, has become one of the most the residents and to rediscover these same strengths within significant national symbols of Israel’s resurrection. Sderot’s themselves while facing the challenges of the future – both 14 Target Audiences & Goals brave determination in the face of continuous Palestinian personal and national. terror has revealed to the Israeli public and the entire world, Interpretive Exhibits and Creative Concept 16 a model of courage that has almost disappeared from the Sderot personifies many different expressions of valor 18 The Sderot Heritage Center Serving Sderot’s Residents & Visitors Israeli scene: including: Obstinate Jewish/Israeli self-sacrifice; The determination of the original residents of the Sderot 20 Architectual Spaces and Functions: Stubborn commitment to values and faith; Refugee camp who built a city in the wasteland; Schematic division of spaces and visitor flow Brotherly love and camaraderie in the face of great danger The fortitude of the Ethiopian immigrants who experienced and difficulty; extreme hardship and suffering on their way to the Land 23 Business Plan: Projected Operating Revenues Shouldering pioneering Zionism’s greatest challenges – of Israel; Business Plan: Projected Operating Expenses making the desert bloom, absorbing new immigrants and The heritage of the Caucasian Mountain Jews whose story 25 standing up to Israel’s enemies. played such a major role in the annals of Zionism, aliya, 28 Project Schedule & Timetables settlement and defense in the “Hashomer” movement; Already today, thousands of visitors come to Sderot each The daily courage of today’s residents of Sderot who with 30 Development Budget & Dedication Opportunities year without being members of organized groups or being their bodies and souls defend the borders of the Land of drawn to a specific tourist attraction. They come in order to Israel and with the courage of their hearts set the tone of tap into the special spirit which flows through the streets of our collective stamina as a nation. 4 5 Courage WE DECLARE No other place is more suitable than Sderot as the home of a major tourist and heritage center dedicated to the theme of courage and community, an educational center which will teach the values of courage and heroism to residents and visitors alike, a place which will inspire us to live a life filled with meaning and valor. W E B E L I E V E That this center will become a lodestone for tourists from Israel and abroad and will be a positive and important landmark on the map of tourism in the Western Negev. WE KNOW That the Sderot Heritage Center will be a tremendous local resource and will serve as a source of pride and empowerment for the people of Sderot as a whole. “I brought six children into the world, four boys, all combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces - Uriel, Eliraz, Avichai and Elyasaf, they all served in the Golani Commando Unit. My two girls, Hadas and Bat-el were also connected to the Golani Unit. I didn’t raise them to die. It’s not normal for a mother to bury two of her sons in the very same plot on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. How can I face the same dilemma, time after time? Every time I have to stop and think once again, which son should I visit first? Should I go to my oldest son, or to the younger one who was just buried? Who will be the first to receive a hug from mom? No mother should have to make such choices. My sons did not like war, they were not happy to be in battle, but when they were called to defend our people, they did not hesitate - they said “it’s our turn now, Mom”. They always stood in front, they were always leaders, because that was how you should be, that was what you should do. As members of an already bereaved family, my sons were not obligated to become combat soldiers, however they saw serving in a combat unit as a great privilege and honor. After Uriel fell in battle, Eliraz’s commanding officer suggested he not do his army service in the same battalion. But Eliraz refused - he wanted to be a combat officer and lead other soldiers. When I signed the waiver form allowing them to become combat soldiers, I signed with fear and trepidation, with tears in my eyes, but with joy in my heart. I prayed to G-d, lit candles, gave charity and cried – but still I was happy. I was happy because of the great privilege I had been afforded - to play such an important role in the rebuilding of our land and nation. For so many Shabbatot, I was left at home alone while they were fighting side by side - in Lebanon, in Samaria and elsewhere. During every war or campaign, I hung a large sign on my door, “Home of only Happy Tidings”. When they came home, I would wash their uniforms and hang them outside on the clothesline so all the world would know: Once again, my boys have returned safely! I would pull the thorns out of their hands and feet, bandage them and thank G-d for every thorn in their bodies. I knew that anyone who lives in this land must know how to accept every thorn and every pain with love. I did not have the privilege of being born in Israel, but I did have the privilege of returning to Courage Personified Jerusalem, which my parents could only dream about – back to our national heart and the soul, back to the source of justice and light. I had the privilege to see my nation rise up from the ashes and the dust to A special message from steering committee resume living a life of freedom and power. I had the privilege to see Uriel and Eliraz pray at the Western member Miriam Peretz, Wall. I saw my children marching in formation, proudly wearing the uniform of the Israel Defense Forces. Widow and bereaved mother of First Lieutenant And then…I saw them both, each in turn, wrapped in their prayer shawl and the flag of Israel, carried Uriel Peretz and Major Eliraz Peretz to their final resting places.