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2.8.2007
It`s Friday, and the members of Bnei Akiva Sderot are working on the final preparations for the Shabbat Irgun (the biggest event of the year for the Bnei Akivah youth movement), they try to go about their business as usual, but the fear takes hold every time they leave home for the "unprotected" Bnei Akiva building that centers their activity. "It`s scary", the members say, and they remember the counselor they loved Elah Abuksis Z"L, who was killed two years ago from a Kasssam rocket attack on her way home from Bnei Akiva. "The situation here is not nice and even so we try are best, there is definitely less activity and morale is low" and even so members of Bnei Akiva Sderot are not leaving the city` "because it`s our mission". They are here to stay, in spite of the fear.
Members of Bnei Akiva from tribe "Achiyah" of Sderot didn`t know that the program was to be there last with their admired counselor Elah Abuksis. On that same Shabbat afternoon she spoke with them about the need to give of one`s self for Israel and of the love for the land of Israel. She explained that everyone must give something for the defense of Israel and of the need to love of your fellow man, she held a mock up discussion where one member read a script of an Israeli that had just joined the army and wanted to be in a combat unit, and another read that of an Israeli that got out of doing army service and explained that by paying taxes he was giving his part to the state. She concluded the program by concluding that everyone has the obligation to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the Land of Israel.
After she finished the program, she spoke with the girls about modesty, she explained to them about the importance of "Shmirat Negiyah" – a hot topic at the Sderot Bnei Akiva branch, where the boys and girls have joint programs because of the lack of space, as well as daily topics that worry girls.
At around 7pm with the end of Shabbat she finished the program at the branch and went home with her brother, Tamir and with her friend. When they were less than a hundred meters away from their home in the Kasdor neighborhood of the city, the "Red Alert" system sounded. The three were just able to cross the street at a run, but the rocket was too close. When they heard the shriek of the rocket, Elah pushed her brother to the ground and fell on top of him shielding him with her body. At that moment the rocket hit 5 meters behind them. Elah was critically wounded from shrapnel to her head, her brother was moderately wounded also he received shrapnel to his head. Two others where lightly wounded from shrapnel and three others went into shock.
Elah and Tamir`s Parents were at home at the time of the attack and when they heard the explosion they ran outside and saw their children strewn on the pavement wounded. "I found Elah Strewn on the pavement, Her hands were cold and there was a lot of blood coming out of her head. I called her name but she didn`t answer. A moment passed and I imagined the times when I would ask her how she was doing and she would answer `everything`s all right`, I prayed to Hashem and I said that if she doesn`t answer at least let her make a sign with her eyes, but all was for naught", her father said.
Israel Red Star of David ambulances rushed the wounded to Barzilai medical center in Ashkelon. After struggling for her life for a number of days, Elah succumbed to her wounds. The entire nation had been enlisted to read Psalms for her recovery and to support her family. Her brother Tamir recovered and recently celebrated his Bar-Mitzvah which was a very emotional event.
Click here to go to the Elah Abuksis memorial websit
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