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How one family was shattered By Mijal Grinberg Tags: Sderot At lunchtime Friday, Varda, 67, and Isaschar Seruya, 70, sat down to eat with three of their 12 adult children at their home on Rambam Street in Sderot. Five of the couple's children live with them, including three who subsist on National Insurance Institute allowances due to slight developmental disabilities. They also have a granddaughter living with them, Ilanit's daughter Shahar, who works to support her parents and siblings. As they gathered at the lunch table, the Color Red alarm went off. The house was not fortified. Advertisement "I went to bring the pot from the kitchen and there was an alarm," Varda said. "I didn't have time to hide and there was a bang, everything collapsed." Ambulances arrived. "From there they took us to the Hosen trauma center, for treatment," Ilanit said. "There they took our blood pressure and talked to us." The Hosen trauma center referred Varda to Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center, because of hypertension. "Meanwhile, we went home, to pack stuff," Ilanit said. "We couldn't find our things. Everything was ruined and full of dust," said Yoav, a son. The tax authority sent the family, with the clothes they managed to pack, to the Golden Tulip Hotel in Be'er Sheva. Families whose homes have been destroyed are usually sent to an Ashkelon hotel, but with the upsurge in Grad missile attacks on Ashkelon, the families are now being routed to hotels in other areas. Varda got to the hotel the evening after she was released from the hospital, and the family gathered in one hotel room, seeking solace in each other. "We don't know what will happen to us now," Ilanit said. "We don't want to go back to Sderot. We have no house there, and we have nowhere else to go, either." Varda was still in shock from what happened. Her granddaughter, Shahar, had one thing on her mind: "How will I go to school on Sunday? How?" On the day after, the family seemed to be feeling even worse. "We couldn't sleep all night," they said in a chorus. They don't leave the hotel room, don't know how they will get on with their lives now." "I want to go back to Sderot," Yoav said suddenly. Snir Suissa, Varda's grandson, was seriously wounded by a Qassam more than a year ago. Since then, the family has been growing ever more anxious. Yoav insisted on explaining why, nonetheless, he wants to return to Sderot. "I need the synagogue. Here I'm not familiar with anything," he said, looking at the hotel ceiling. "I need the prayer service, need Sderot," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Born to bear arms Many children of expatriates return to Israel to serve in the IDF Doctored death? An Independent expert says IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura.

Today Online U.S. calls for end to violence, return to peace talks Responses: 441 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing IDF operation Responses: 240 Barak: IDF has no choice but to continue Gaza offensive Responses: 176 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 151 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 94 More Headlines 02:15 10 Palestinians killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing Gaza offensive 02:20 PM to tell Rice: Israel reserves right to act freely in Gaza 21:05 2 Israelis lightly wounded as 33 rockets slam in western Negev 02:18 Gov't, IDF: Hamas wants lull in Gaza but only on its own terms 22:03 U.S. calls for end to continued violence, return to peace talks 23:26 Hebron teen dies, 4 Israelis hurt as violence spreads to W. Bank 22:47 Barak to hold meeting on legality of striking civilian areas in Gaza 00:40 Long-silenced Iranian Jews find their political voice in America 22:07 Iran leader calls on Muslims to hit Israel 'in face' over Gaza op 00:50 Israeli airlines worry that Gaza war will ruin Pesach travel 01:30 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Pray for soldiers' well-being in synagogue 20:49 Police halt Israeli Arab rally against Gaza op, arrest 2 at T.A. protest 22:32 Israel buys supply of pills to protect against nuclear radiation 23:05 Medvedev secures lead in Russian vote, vows to pursue Putin goals Previous Editions Select Day 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb

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