----- Original Message ----- From: francine widerker Subject: Re: Sederot and the bagrut To All those living in the Sderot area, I live in a comfortable house in Kfar Vradim (We were hit this summer) and if you would like to join us for a break, you are welcome. We keep kosher, but not Shabbat. Francine 04-997-2607 ----- Original Message ----- From: Leonie Lachmish Subject: Re: Sederot and the bagrut Esther, I think most of us who don't live in the areas that have been invaded by bombs and rockets from our neighbours, cannot fathom the conditions the pupils and teachers are suffering in Sderot and around (and I live just outside Ashkelon so it might be just a matter of time). I think you are so justified in your demand for a very different approach, for thinking "outside the box". Perhaps you could turn a shortened version of this letter into a petition and put it online. There must be a Hebrew petition site . As this would need to cover all subjects, not just English, that would probably be the most effective. Wishing all the students in the areas under fire, a peaceful day and every success tomorrow and an end to this terrible ordeal, And to you and all teachers in the danger zone - my respect, admiration, love and prayers, Leonie Lachmish SINGLISH : SING IT IN ENGLISH : http://lachmish-hafakot.com/singlish/singlish1.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Esther Revivo" Subject: Sederot and the bagrut Good evening and good luck tomorrow to all our pupils. This is not a political site, and I have no intention of dealing with anything political. I simply wish to share my extreme frustration and I am sure that of other teachers at schools "B'azor otef Azza" during this horrible last week: On last Tuesday night my school had a program for Yom Yerushalayim that included a holiday prayer for thanks and hosted a former general, now Knesset member, who told what the fighting was like 40 yrs. ago in Jerusalem. That evening a busload of our pupils had a miracle occur. As they were milling about a few meters away from the rented bus that was set to leave in about 15 minutes to my school, the " Color Red" alarm sounded; the girls dashed onto the bus and a kassam landed EXACTLY where they had been standing. The 7th graders- 16 in all- were hysterical and thankfully some 15-6 year old girls were there as well to try and calm them down. The little ones were unable even to answer their pelephones when their worried parents called. Friday (my free day, by the way; we all do what duty calls for :) I was at school giving another matkonet to my senior class. At 8:45 I got a phone call from a very tense WONDERFUL pupil of mine of the past 3 years, "Ha'morah!! Michal and I want SO much to come to the matkonet but every other minute there is a rocket and we just can't leave the house!" These 2 girls live in "THE" area that gets the most rockets, and the above Michal was a tenth grader 2 1/2 yrs. ago when she stood next to Ella Abukasis who was killed by a kassam as both girls were returning from Bnei Akiva. I am not an idiot. We all know that the factions in Gaza are desperate to have us come in and "conquer" Gaza so that this will end their bloody civil war; unite them and put us once more in the "bad guy" role. There are no easy answers, but these poor kids are not getting enough slack for the bagrut from the Ministry of Education as far as I am concerned. What good is extra time if you haven't been able to concentrate studying worrying about family members; getting up and running to an Azor Mugan at 3:00 a.m.; etc.? These kids should have "X" amount of points added onto ALL their exam grades, as far as I am concerned. All those kibbutzim in the area (Nir Am; Kfar Azza; Sapir College and it's nearby school) are getting so many rockets, non-stop; how in heavens name can ANYBODY concentrate on math/ English/ Bible/ computer programming/ physics/ etc.? When I was in the eleventh grade in the mid-1970's, some smart kids cracked the safe in one of the schools and distributed the NY state regents exams to their friends. That year, the NY State Regents Board cancelled the regents and schools were told to give internal exams in their place. My point is that in extenuating circumstances "thinking outside the box" is crucial. What would be so terrible to add "X" amount of points not to an entire school, but to each and every child who lives in the areas like Kfar Maimon and those other kibbutzim many of whom I haven't named (Sa'ad for example)???? Here in Netivot we hear the BOOOOM of rockets, but thank G-d since last August, although they fall in the area they don't land in Netivot itself. I am also tremendously worried about the long-term psychological ramifications: How will children (let's say my 7th graders) be able to lead normal adult lives in the future and deal with the normal stresses of life after 5/ 6 yrs. that has had so many horrendous periods like this? I am sending a copy of this to Judy Steiner but my hope is not just consideration for English, but for ALL of the bagruyot. Lets get real folks! I have a tenth grader who in the space of 3 months had her Mom "almost" get killed twice: One morning at 6.30 a.m. a rocket caused the parents' bedroom ceiling to collapse one minute after Mom escaped. (Dad was praying in Shul.) Then a couple of months later during a "Colour Red" alarm, Mom put the car in park, ran out and the car got a direct hit and exploded. Kaput. How in heavens name after that upset last summer can Chen not have all her fears come to the surface now during these non-stop rocket attacks? How can she possibly study for her history/ Lashon/ Bikiyut/ exams?????? Please, dear important folks upstairs--- please help these poor kids out!!!! They deserve it!!!! Believe me!!! Esther Revivo, Ulpanat Tzvia Netivot