Bomb Shelter Locks

Below is a letter from my close family friend. He is Israeli and lives near Tel Aviv. His words are far better than mine at explaining what is needed. If you would like to donate, please contact yadazarah@gmail.com or Hanan@buzzhunter.nyc. 

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Dear Friends, The past week has been incredibly heavy since the terrible attack by Hamas. It's like time has rushed by, but the weight of these days has left us all feeling much older. I've been trying to avoid the constant news stream because it doesn't offer much comfort. Like many others around me who are too old/young to be called for military duty, I rushed to help the less fortunate, although calling them "less fortunate" doesn't do justice to their pain. The stories of cruelty and bravery have been both heart-wrenching and inspiring. In the first couple of days following the attack, I focused on supporting families who had to leave their homes. I loaded up my truck with kind-hearted people and essential supplies, and together, we went to places where we could offer help and comfort. There, I met people who had faced unimaginable horrors and survived. The pain in their eyes reminded me of the survivors I knew from my childhood who had endured the Holocaust. It's a look that can only come from witnessing things too terrible to put into words. On Monday night, I learned of a simple yet brilliant solution by an 88-year-old inventor, to make shelters safer. A wooden board with a hole in just the right place. You see, Israel's shelters and safe rooms were never designed to keep out terrorists; their primary purpose is to protect against missiles and bombs. My friend Tom courageously held the door to protect his family for hours until the attackers shot him through the door with anti-armor shells. He gave his life to save his three little girls and his wife. Tom, who had once been an actor on stage, was laid to rest just yesterday. In his honor, an emotional request was made at his funeral: to applaud for a minute in recognition of his incredible bravery. Hundreds of people stood, clapping their hands, and as they wiped away their tears at the end of that minute, we were reminded of the depth of his sacrifice. On Tuesday morning, with the support of my community, we started making these door locks. By the end of the day, we had produced and distributed hundreds of them, raised some funds for more lumber, and recruited many more volunteers. It felt like the beginning of a movement, uniting people from all walks of life to spread goodness and help ease the burdens of those in distress. Yesterday morning, while I was busy organizing the last shipment of the week to be picked up on the street, a stranger stopped, looked at the wood pieces, recognized them, and, without asking, helped me finish the job. This spirit is the light at the end of the dark tunnel we are currently in. Our backs may have ached, but our hearts felt a little lighter as we manufactured and shipped over 1,600 boards, and we already have requests for a few thousand more. I'm hopeful that this movement will grow, with more hearts and hands joining to make sure anyone who requires a door barrier can have one, and I'm even more hopeful that no one will need to use it. For this, we need your support. We must buy lumber and ensure it reaches our dedicated volunteers to create these protective barriers. With your help, we can extend our reach all across Israel. I would be immensely grateful if you could contribute even a small donation. Just two dollars can make a family feel significantly safer. Thank you for your support. Hanan