[etni] Fw: Sederot this week/Winter Bagrut exams
----- Original Message ----- From: Esther Revivo - estherrv@xxxxxxxxxxx 
Subject: Sederot this week/Winter Bagrut exams
I know that this site is "a-politi," and I have no intention of getting into politics. I'd just like to put a "face" on those anonymous ".....no physical harm; only structural damage; nifgaei helem..." etc. that we hear daily on the news. 
What is "Nifgaei Helem?" Shell shock? Post traumatic stress disorder?
This Thursday we had a special program (planned months ago,) to remember our angelic Ella Abukassis who was killed by a piece of Kassam shrapnel a few years ago. Since this week has been so traumatic, our principal allowed several of our pupils from Sederot to take the microphone and talk. One girl spoke for 20 minutes. (Her older sister graduated last year;she developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome from all the stress.) She is in 7th grade and described what this week and many others like it have done to her family over the past 7 years.
We also had representatives from http://www.matesderot.co.il/ a non-political organization made up of Sederot citizens ( who are from all walks of life-- religious and non-religious; from all political parties) that have one aim: to make others aware of what Sederot is going through. Also, they aid those in need by in many ways. I was extremely proud to see that two of our Ulpana's College/ University graduates opted to volunteer in Sederot instead of seeking lucrative jobs for the time being.
Please go to the above link, download and watch the short film about the organization. (The first part is disturbing but shows what is going on. I can't forget that hysterical little girl shrieking, "IMA!!) We saw another film for which I can't find the link that was even more dramatic. It was about the town alone, not about the organization. 

These are our brothers and sisters, and the very least we
can do is to educate ourselves about what is going on, and not treat as "white noise" the fact that kassams are falling in the Western Negev. There are many young people who G-d only knows how they will have normal adult lives with such stress as youngsters. Adults? The problems they have are too many to count. Here are three facts about a few of our pupils:
One pupil's Mom had a nervous breakdown this summer; another's Mom is now in Soroka with dangerously elevated blood pressure; another girl's parents are getting divorced. 
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Now to mundane matters:
I thought all the exams were fair, although my pupils that did E found it a bit difficult. As Laurie mentioned, my chief complaint in general over these exams is, as she said:
" I just wish the exams were more consistent in level so we'd know what to expect." 
Se la vi. Good luck to all you markers now!
Praying for a quiet week for our country-
Esther Revivo
Ulpanat Tzvia Sedot Negev.



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