(Information for this article is culled from various trips to the memorial including one guided by the Beit HaMeyasdim of Sderot.)
We are all familiar with the difficult and painful battle that took place in Sderot on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists penetrated the city and murdered everyone in sight. They murdered a group of retirees who were on their way for a day trip to the Dead Sea. They mercilessly killed children and parents. The terrorists also managed to infiltrate the Sderot police station and a fierce battle ensued on-site. Israeli police surrounded the police station from all 360 degrees to prevent the terrorists from leaving and slaughtering residents of the city. Ultimately, the decision was made to destroy the police station, thus eliminating the terrorists holed up inside. A fire truck first drove onto the battle site to remove the few Israeli police still remaining in the police station from the roof. Then the building was demolished by Israeli fire.
The site of the destroyed police station was then cleared and in its place stands a meaningful andarta, memorial, to the bravery of the people and officers of Sderot for their heroic acts on that day. From afar one can see the tall columns rising towards the sky. At the peak of the columns are Hebrew letters that seem to be evaporating into the air.
As one walks between the columns, one can hear solemn music playing. On the columns are engraved various messages, all relevant for this situation. Some are verses from Tanach that speak about the struggles of the Jewish people throughout history and how they turn and cry out to God for help. Others are verses of more contemporary Israeli poetry. On one pillar are the particularly chilling words of Romi Swissa, a 6-year-old Israeli resident of Sderot: “Are you from Israel?” Romi’s family was on their way out of Sderot when the terrorists infiltrated the city. Her father was shot immediately. A passerby then picked up her mother, Romi and her little sister to bring them to the police station, which everyone thought would be the safest place. Not far from the police station her mother and the driver were also shot, leaving Romi and her younger sibling screaming for help in the car. An Israeli police officer heard their cries and when he opened the car door, Romi innocently asked “אתם של ישראל?” in her effort to determine if her savior could be trusted or was another terrorist in an Israeli police uniform. Her chilling words really paint a perspective of the trauma and tragedy experienced by the people of Sderot on that fateful Simchat Torah.
Past the columns are placards that talk about the city of Sderot and the battle that ensued at the police station. “Before” and “after” photographs show the Sderot police station prior to Oct. 7, a symbol of Israeli sovereignty in the region, as well as the decimated structure after it was demolished.
To the left of the columns is a large drawing on the side of a building. Its center shows the old Sderot police station with a Torah scroll perched on top. Emerging from the Torah scroll are Hebrew letters evaporating into the heavens. This is reminiscent of the famous Gemara (Avodah Zara 18A) about Rabbi Chaninah ben Tradyon who was caught by the Romans for teaching Torah. His executioners wanted to make his death long and painful so they wrapped him with a Torah scroll and put wet cotton over his heart. His students asked him what he saw and he responded that he saw scrolls burning while the letters were soaring to the heavens. The message is clear and forever relevant to the Jewish people: Our enemies may harm us physically, but they can never diminish our spirit.
On the other side of the columns is a path lined with stones from the old police station as well as names of people who were murdered there. One walks downward into the path and then emerges by walking upward. This is the Jewish spirit! We may have downs, but we will always emerge stronger. Am Yisrael Chai!
Hava Preil is an enthusiastic licensed Israeli tour guide. She grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and holds an M.A. in Judaic studies. Hava has developed and taught accredited courses in Tanach and Jewish ethics for Naaleh/Woodmont College and Cybersem. She currently lives in Givat Ze’ev with her family. Hava can be reached at IL:054-844-1579, USA: (845) 391-0438, or at [email protected] Visit her website, Home—Hava Preil Tours, havapreiltours.com. Hava is also offering virtual tours of various sites in Israel—a perfect activity for your school, synagogue or youth group.
