The city of Sderot, located just one mile from the border with Gaza, is home to 30,000 residents and has been steadily growing over the past several years, despite the constant threat of attack from rocket fire, incendiary balloons, and terror. For twenty years, the children of Sderot have been raised with the reality of Code Red sirens, and are accustomed to running for cover into the nearest bomb shelter in under 15 seconds.

Despite this terror, Sderot is a special place to live, with a family-style atmosphere, deep friendships, and the warmth of community.

Because children must always be within 15 seconds of a bomb shelter, an afternoon in the park can turn into a potentially dangerous activity, sometimes forcing children to spend their time indoors. To make a lasting difference in the community, Jewish National Fund-USA built a 21,000 square foot secure indoor playground and community center in 2009. Since its opening, the JNF-USA Sderot Indoor Recreation Center has brought a welcome sense of normalcy to the region, providing young people with a fun place to simply be kids, and parents with the peace of mind that their children are playing in a safe environment.

Congregation Beth Ohr and the Merrick Jewish Centre are coming together on June 12, 2022 at Wantagh Park to play together safely - outdoors - because the children of Sderot cannot.