Sderot crossing. Photo: Golan Sabag (aurora-israel.co.il) Prologue Sderot means boulevard A beautiful, wide thoroughfare, lined with trees Boulevard comes from bulwark Something that protects you from danger Police protect the polis (city) The public, people, and property “The police station is the safest place in the city” A bulwark against outside threats Shai is a municipal police officer, in Sderot, Israel Shai starts us off with two rules: 1. If there is a red alert (siren) the protected space (shelter) is over there à (danger still threatens) 2. Do not record, photograph, or film (people are being killed in these scenes we’re about to see) *** Shabbat morning, 7 th of October, Simchat Torah These are the first five minutes When there is a siren, all personnel immediately go to the police station They need to supplement the on-duty force 6:45 AM An officer from the intelligence service heard the siren He and ot
On February 20, 2024, our group ( SBSMI ) had the honor to meet with Dr. Yuli Tamir, President of Beit Berl College , (along with Yossi Levin, the Strategic Development Director of the college). It was more quiet than usual when our delegation was on the Beit Berl campus, because it was the first week of an official break in the academic calendar. Israel’s educational institutions were deeply affected by the atrocities of October 7 th and their aftermath. Studies that should have started right after the fall holiday season (which ends with Sukkot and Simchat Torah – the day the attacks were perpetrated) were delayed in some cases by nearly three months, to the beginning of January 2024. A Career of Public Service Dr. Tamir is an academic and politician with an incredible resume. Between 1999 and 2010, she served in various governmental roles, including Member of the Knesset (MK) from the Labor Party , Minister of Immigrant Absorption, Minister of Education, and Deputy Speak