Things are difficult for many in Israel and around the world as there is considerable belt-tightening related to the economic crisis, but Sderot residents seem to be having a particularly hard time. The town has never known really good times, with most residents living a very modest lifestyle. The rockets and the Gaza War have led to increased unemployment and difficulties for many.

According to social services officials, one of every three families is in need of Pessach assistance to make the yomtov happen in a respectable fashion, referring to Kimcha D’Pischa assistance to provide these families with basics. Chessed organizations explain there is simply not enough to go around due to the economic crisis – explaining donations are down considerably since last year.

HaRav Moshe Ze’ev Pizam and his son Asher, Chabad Chassidim, usually distribute 1,000 packages for Pessach but this year, they fear they may not be able to assist more than 200 families. City welfare officials confirm that 2,000 of the city’s 6,000 families are indeed in need of assistance before yomtov.

Merkaz HaChesed officials report that unfortunately, their organization is also having difficulties enlisting funds, and as such, will only distribute 1,000 packages to the Sderot area, half of the usual number.

One heartbreaking story is that of Dalia, 56, a mother of seven. For Dalia, who lives the daily reminder of the current economic crisis, she will most likely be alone for Seder in her apartment building, in which many of the residents have fallen on hard times. Water and electricity has been cut off to the building’s residents. Her adult children come from time-to-time but she basically lives alone. The thought of yomtov depresses her she explains, pointing out that she has been sleeping on the floor since her furniture is gone.

The yomtov she explains just exacerbates the emptiness, the reality that nothing remains. “I don’t think that I will celebrate this year” she explains, “now that I live on my Bituach Leumi allowance and the debts are strangling me and I do not see any way out”.

A neighbor of Dalia, who prefers to be known as “M” also has seven children. “I daven to Hashem that someone will do something for if not, my children will not have food for Pessach. I do not know what to do”.

“D”, another neighbor in the building explains that she supports her unemployed husband and three children but they simply cannot pay the bills on her modest salary. “I cry all the time. The feeling before Pesach is a heavy one. If we do not receive Kimcha D’Pischa, we simply will not have Pessach”.

“G” lives next door, an unemployed home. There are four small children and the situation is critical. “We all daven constantly hoping for assistance. Even on yomtov there is no joy. We are without a solution”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)