February 14, 2008 / 8 Adar I 5768

Snir is a participant of the Jewish Agency's Net@ program. He is an ambitious student who wants to excel in his studies and gain the training necessary to enter the high tech profession. However, all his ambition can not shake the reality in which he lives. Snir is from Sderot, and during the past few months has suffered from the escalating rocket attacks pounding his city.* Since the starting of the school year he and his friends found it difficult to succeed in their exams due to their overwhelming fear that the attacks will continue and will not end. This is his story:

Hello, my name is Snir.

I want you to know what I have experienced during this past year in terms of the Kassam missiles.

First of all, it doesn't end and apparently will never end.  It goes on all the time.  The threat of their firing missiles at us in Sderot is really a tough situation.

Since it all began seven years ago, this has been the hardest year. At the start of the school year there was a massive attack on the city and there were people killed and many wounded and it frightened all of us.

There are no heroes in this affair.  I can't leave the house because I am frightened.  My friends don't go out either.  We don't see each other face to face any more.  The alarm goes off at least once a day and I am afraid to go outside in case the alarm is sounded suddenly and I won't be in a protected area.

Four months ago the second mass attack occurred which was the most frightening of them all.  They fired 300 missiles at us during that week and it continued for a month.  It was very problematic even to take a shower.  I would shower for a minute and then return to the shelter.  We have stopped studying, and going out to have fun in the town…I saw some of my neighbors being wounded and I took it very hard.  Then my parents and all my other uncles decided to go on vacation.  I passed the time there. 

We came back after two weeks and saw that every thing remains exactly the same..  As you can gather studying did not come easy. Each and every one of us found it difficult to succeed in the exams.  This feeling of fear accompanies you at every moment because you know that this doesn't end.  This, more or less is how the last year went by.

NET@ -- Youth, Technology and the Future is an initiative whose goal is to train youth in the periphery of Israel for high tech professions at the highest level. With your help, the Jewish Agency can help youth pursue excellent education and social goals, develop local leadership and contribute to their community. Join us in our efforts.

For more information about Net@, click here.