Innocent civilians of Sderot are showing the effects of living under daily barrages of rockets launched by terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The emotional strain of constant physical danger is debilitating. The impact has been particularly profound on children, between 75% and 94% of whom exhibit signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

FEDERATION CJA is rallying Montreal's Jewish community in an effort to let the people of Sderot know that they are not alone. By establishing personal contacts, Montrealers can demonstrate that they care about the plight of Sderot and can ease the sense of isolation that accompanies the fear of violence.

Three major initiatives have been undertaken:

*  Whenever an alert sounds in Sderot, which gives a mere 15 seconds warning that a missile is on its way, several of Montreal's Jewish schools - including Maimonide Ville St. Laurent, Hebrew Academy, Herzliah Snowdon and Ville St. Laurent, and Bialik - are immediately informed. Students and teachers stop what they are doing and take a moment of silence to express solidarity and the hope that nobody will suffer harm.

* To coincide with Purim, every student and teacher in Jewish day schools received a postcard on which to record messages of support that are being sent to the children of Sderot. When reading these inspiring and emotional sentiments recipients will take comfort that the thoughts of Montrealers are with them during this very difficult time. 

* Eighteen posters emblazed with Montreal ? Sderot have been distributed to synagogues and other organizations around Montreal. People are being encouraged to write messages and sign their names on the posters. FEDERATION CJA will send them to Sderot, where they will be displayed in the local community centre.

The protracted conflict with terrorists in the Gaza Strip, of which Sderot has borne the brunt over the past seven years, now threatens the entire western Negev. The situation has been ignored for too long. Montreal's Jewish community is quick to stand with Israel whenever it faces a crisis. It is doing so now, and urges all its members to join in expressing support for those who are living under the spectre of terror.