September 23, 2009/5 Tishrei 5770

David Solomon, a Jewish donor from Philadelphia and among the future leaders of North American Jewry, recently visited Israeli communities near the Gaza border.

This is already the third time David visited Sderot in the past year.  “He feels our pain and shares in our joy,” said Ofer Baram, director of public relations for the Southern Israel region of Ezor Yisrael.  “He shows particular interest in anything having to do with children,” Ofer added.

“We visited the Gefen preschool for the second time, and were happy to see the joy on the faces of the children and teachers, due to the quiet conditions and the defense systems that were completed thanks to a generous donation by North American Jewish communities,” Ofer recalled.

The family visited a completely protected playground in Sderot, and a new, protected game facility donated by the J.N.F.

David spent time with Bruria Weitzman, whom he had handed financial aid from the Emergency Fund following Operation Cast Lead.  Ohad Drori, a social worker who works with the Emergency Fund, shared with the family some stories of his work in the area. The trip to Sderot ended with a visit to Sderot's Mayor, David Bouskila.

The mayor gave David’s seven-year-old son, Boaz, a new knapsack in honor of the new school year, and also gave David the medallion of Sderot.