An association of more than 50 start-up religious communities around the country
have invited residents of the embattled southern region to stay with them over
the coming Shabbat to provide them with respite from the threat of rockets
attacks.
The Communities Foundation organization, which is behind the
initiative, said that it is calling on all residents of the South, “religious
and secular families, young and old, students, national service girls and hesder
yeshiva students” to “disengage from the escalation taking place amidst their
streets, to pack their bags and spend a tranquil Shabbat in the secure regions
of the country.”
So-called “religious start-up communities” have been
established around the country by the foundation to contribute to the
educational and Zionistic life and culture of development towns and provincial
communities.
“Thousands of families from start-up religious communities
across the country are happy to open their doors this coming Shabbat for the
residents of the South,” said Shai Tubul, director of the Communities
Foundation. “It’s an opportunity to connect Israelis all over the country with
their brothers in the South,” he continued.
“This project comes about
because of our identification with the residents there and their amazing ability
to deal with the tough situation in which they are living,” Tubul
added.
In order to facilitate the program, the Communities Foundation has
established a dedicated phone line for anyone interested in being hosted by a
family in one of its start-up communities.