…As they are not able to make it to a secure location in enough time, they stay in their apartments and are terribly frightened. We have had several tenants who are experiencing tremendous anxiety all of the time and both the staff and the board have been very busy trying to help people.

After 14 days we are all familiar with the sound of the sirens piercing the air throughout Israel, the sight of people running to shelters, the news of death and destruction. Two emails from early this morning remind us of a special group of people particularly hard hit by the ongoing war — disabled people. What do you do when you live alone and are disabled? Even if your home is secure, to be alone during such a stressful time is extraordinarily difficult.  As Miriam Freier, founder of Shalhevet which provides independent housing to disabled people in Jerusalem, wrote this morning, anxiety abounds in her group.

Laurie Groner who helps run Inbar, an organization that offers social events as well as courses in relationships and social integration to people with disabilities wrote,  We’re just one small organization, and last night while I was glued to the TV I got 5 phone calls from our clients. Many of them are home alone and they just want to talk. They’re thinking that next time this happens they don’t want to be alone…..We’ve cancelled three events so far and people really miss them.

The Good People Fund will help Miriam and the residents of Shalhevet. While we cannot stop the war, we can make it possible for a communal Shabbat meal and other diversions to help ease the residents’ concerns. Perhaps this week’s Shabbat meal will be a quiet one with no sirens to create anxiety and fear?