A Surprise Visit to the Children of Sderot!
First-grade children in the beleaguered city of Sderot in the south of Israel received a wonderful surprise visit from the Roisen family, who are part of Rabbi Zvi Greenblatt’s community in Argentina. 
The family was in Israel to celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Dina and wanted to share their happiness with the children.
The Roisens, accompanied by Rabbi Yossi Swerdlov brought beautiful gifts for the children to celebrate the New Year. The packages included a jar of honey for each child and a letter filled with blessings for the New Year. As well they brought gift packages from Chabad of Mequon in Wisconsin that contained a wonderful verity of school supplies.
Dina, who was celebrating her Bat Mitzvah, and her family, handed each child their gift package individually, their warm smiles and greetings showing the children how much the family cares about them and thinks of them.
Everyone was moved and delighted when Rabbi Moshe Zeev Pizem, Chabad Shaliach of Sderot, blew the shofar and explained the meaning of this special custom that characterizes this time of the year.
Rabbi Menachem Kutner, Director of of Chabad Terror Victims Project (CTVP), addressed the children and congratulated them. He thanked the school for their warm hospitality.
From there Dina and her family went to visit a family whose house had been hit by a Kassam missile the Friday before. Miraculously there were no casualties. Gifts were given to the children of this family as well.
Everyone wished each other a good and sweet New Year. The miracle of the family’s safe escape from harm moved the group to break out in spontaneous and spirited song and dance in gratitude that no one was hurt.
The entire visit was a very moving one for the Rosen family, for the children and families of Sderot, and for CTVP. The kindness, generosity and warmth expressed will live long in the minds and hearts of the children in Sderot. And for the Rosen family, this day will live on in their hearts as well.