Protect Tzfat's Children from Rocket Attacks

Sparks to Life is a 100% volunteer-powered nonprofit organization based in Tzfat. We have partnered with Operation Lifeshield to bring life-saving shelters to young children in our region of northern Israel.

This initiative is a direct response to the increasing threat of rocket attacks on our communities, which house a significant number of young children in educational institutions that currently lack adequate protection. As we try to carry on in what has been called "the routine of emergency," schools continue to operate even as the threat of escalation in the north grows closer each day.

Tzfat is an ancient city—much of it was built before current safety regulations came into effect. It’s also a vibrant, growing city with many large families. With 46% of our population under the age of 18, the city's 165 educational institutions have struggled to keep pace with the rapid expansion of its population. Many of these schools, including preschools and kindergartens, are housed in temporary structures with thin walls that offer little to no protection from rocket attacks.

Several elementary schools and even a few high schools are also lacking shelter, but at least the older children are a little more capable of getting under tables and following safety instructions. If you need to quickly get 30 four-year-olds to lie down away from windows and cover their heads for 10 minutes, it’s a lot more challenging!

Tzfat residents have been sent running for shelter over 40 times from rockets and armed UAVs, with five of those incidents just in the past few days. Tzfat is under increased threat due to the close proximity of four military bases, including the Headquarters of the IDF's Northern Command. While we have been “blessed” to have “only” one casualty and a few physical injuries, the mental trauma of having nowhere to run when the sirens go off is causing the most damage. With the increased frequency of red alerts, we began to see more parents keeping children home from school, at the cost of the children’s education and social routine, and even missed work days. One preschool, which we brought a shelter to in July, was down to only about 5 children attending regularly…out of 28. Additionally, schools are having difficulty hiring and retaining teachers due to the unsafe conditions.

Hatzor Haglilit is a nearby town that is part of our Partnership2Gether region, with our sister city and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, who have been a strong supporter of this project. They are even closer to the northern border and we are making sure that their children can learn in safety too. Together with the Federation, Operation Lifeshield, and hundreds of donors from around the world, we have already brought 20 shelters to our region. With your help, we can work together to bring the next five (each shelter costs approx. 100k shekels, including delivery and minor site prep). Our goal is to keep as many children as safe as possible, preserving the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of students, with life continuing as much of a “normal” life as we can during these uncertain times.

Your support for shelters in preschools will not only contribute to the physical security of our children, but also to peace of mind for parents and teaching staff. Please consider partnering with us in this vital cause. It’s a worthwhile investment because each and every shelter helps another adorable bundle of tiny children go about their daily lives with less anxiety, knowing they are protected from the imminent threat of rocket attacks.

So hit that DONATE button, and then give the campaign a SHARE too! Every contribution and act to raise awareness can literally save lives. Thank you for caring and helping keep our children safe.