Day 183, March 15th, 2011

Terror has struck Israel again.

On Friday night, Udi and Ruthie Fogel, aged 36 and 35, and three of their children – Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and Hadas, barely three months old - were brutally stabbed to death in their sleep by terrorists who broke into their home in the Israeli community of Itamar.

Three Fogel children survived the attack. Twelve-year-old Tamar, who discovered the carnage, and her two brothers, Roi, 8, and Yishai, 2, who were miraculously left unharmed.

According to news reports, the terrorists managed to vault over a security fence and enter the Fogel house through the living room window. They then slashed the throats of the four Fogels whom they found asleep, and stabbed Ruthie to death as she exited the bathroom. Miraculously, they did not notice Roi asleep on the couch or tiny Ishai in his bed. After their rampage, the murderers locked the front door and escaped.

OneFamily has already been to the grandparents’ home, where the surviving children were taken following the murders. Today, we attended the funeral to show the Fogels that we are here for them, and that will be here for them every step of the way; offering guidance, understanding and support.

As the initial shock is replaced with realization that their lives will never be the same, OneFamily professionals and volunteers will be on call and available to help the Fogel children cope. The surviving children will join our specialized support group for orphans of terror - currently including 51 orphans from 14 families just like theirs. They will also receive the care and support of OneFamily’s Youth Division, whose ongoing programs, activities and personal attention are given to nearly 2000 young Israelis bereaved by senseless acts of terror. The bereaved grandparents will be invited to join OneFamily’s support groups for bereaved adults.

OneFamily is the only non-profit organization dedicated to providing Israel’s victims of terror and their families with the personalized, comprehensive and long-term support they need to rehabilitate and reintegrate back into society - from the moment of trauma and for as long as assistance is needed.

In this case, that will be a long time.

Beyond their psychological needs, funds will be needed far into the future to help the three surviving Fogel children grow into adulthood, to complete their education, and to achieve independence. In short, to do for them what their parents would have, had they survived the terrorists’ knives.

It is always very difficult to find the words to ask for your help, especially when we are still caught in the horror ourselves. But with a deep sense of mission, OneFamily must ask you to help us help these latest victims of terror in Israel. Our programs and dedicated care and rehabilitation for victims cannot exist without your support.

Donations can be made online at www.onefamilyfund.org or by phone 1-866-9-1FAMILY.

With your help, OneFamily will continue to help the bereaved, maimed, psychologically traumatized and financially devastated victims to rebuild their shattered lives.

info@OneFamilyFund.org
www.OneFamilyFund.org