When Seconds Matter, a Shelter Makes the Difference

Dear Friends,

As the spring harvest ripens across Israel, we approach one of the most meaningful seasons on the biblical calendar. Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, begins the evening of 21 May. It is a time when the Jewish people honour the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and the offering of the firstfruits of the harvest to God.

The firstfruits offering was an act of faith. The people brought the very first and best of their harvest to the Temple, not knowing what the rest of the season would bring. And woven into that offering was a powerful command: do not forget the widow, the orphan, or the stranger among you. Let your abundance become their lifeline.

This Shavuot, that ancient call takes on an urgency we feel in our bones.

The war between Israel and Iran continues to touch every corner of daily life. Sirens send families running for shelter at all hours. Indiscriminate missile attacks, including cluster munitions, are striking populated areas, putting innocent men, women, and children at immediate risk. Picture a mother rushing her toddler down a dark hallway at two in the morning, or an elderly woman with a walker trying to reach shelter before impact. This is daily life in Israel right now.

And here is the reality many outside the country do not fully grasp: not every home or neighbourhood has access to a secure shelter. When a missile is inbound, there may be only seconds to find cover. For those who have nowhere to run, those seconds carry an unbearable weight.

That is why Vision for Israel has committed to building and installing reinforced bomb shelters in high-risk, underserved communities across the country. Each shelter is designed to withstand the force of missile strikes and can protect multiple families at once, providing physical safety and the emotional reassurance that comes from knowing there is a place to go when the sirens sound.

To date, thanks to your donations, Vision for Israel has installed over 500 safety shelters in northern and southern Israel. Dozens of communities where families now have somewhere to run. But the need continues to grow. As the conflict persists, more communities are being targeted, and more neighbourhoods remain without protection. Each shelter costs £10,400 ($14,000) to build and install, and every donation brings us closer to placing the next one where it is needed most.

The firstfruits offering was never about giving from leftovers. It was about giving from the first and the best, trusting God to provide the rest. When you give to this project, you become an active partner standing in the gap for families who cannot protect themselves.

This Shavuot, dedicate your gift to Medical and Disaster Relief and help us place the next shelter where it is needed most. Please give today.

Every gift counts. Every shelter saves lives.

Chag Shavuot Sameach!
Barry & Batya Segal