With Sderot in its seventh year of Kassam rocket bombardment, it appeared only fitting that the residents' forbearance be recognized at the Jerusalem Conference.  The Committee for a Secure Sderot, founded and headed by Alon Davidi of Sderot, was awarded the Conference's Prize for Jewish Bravery.



The Committee for a Secure Sderot was established for the purpose of strengthening the resilience of the city's residents. In addition, it helps out in finding solutions for the various problems caused by the deteriorating security situation in the spheres of employment, education, economics, and more.





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The Committee is also engaged in raising public awareness regarding the ongoing security failure in Sderot and the residents' tribulations via public protests, marches, and the like. 



Though the struggle for Sderot's security can easily fall into a trap of politicization, Davidi makes sure to work together with all sectors of the population for their common goal: Security and normalcy in every-day life.  To this end, the Committee works together with the local Yeshivat Hesder and the core-group of religious families who moved together to the city several years ago, of which Davidi was an original member.  It also coordinates with Mayor Eli Moyal's office, Labor Party members, and other groups.

Ex-National Security Council chief Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan explained why the award was so fitting: "Alon Davidi, in the best Talmudic tradition, combines study with deeds, and in addition, he simply wants to help people...  His Security Committee also takes the approach that there is no need to simply suffer and then complain forever afterwards, but rather demand with dignity and firmness what is rightfully yours."

Dayan said that the average citizen in Sderot is asking a simple question: "If the people in the government can't solve the problem of Kassams at Sderot, how can we expect them to meet the Iranian nuclear threat?"

Accepting the Award

Alon Davidi, accepting the award, noted that the residents of Sderot and environs have been treated to some 400 Kassam rockets this year alone - "an insane figure by any standard.  We are living in an insane situation." 

He said that the Committee was born of a spontaneous demonstration-turned-hunger-strike that was held outside the home of Sderot resident and then-Defense Minister Amir Peretz.  "I saw there people of all types," Davidi said, "people who wanted OImert to resign, and those who said we should go into Gaza militarily, and those who were simply concerned for their homes and stores, and we saw that we were all united in simply wanting to live normally."

Thank You's

Davidi thanked a long list of people, including the workers and volunteers of the Committee; fellow-protest leaders Batya Katar, Sasson, and others; Rabbi David Fendel, Michael Siman-Tov, and the students and teachers of the local Yeshivat Hesder; the thousands of people from around the country who come to Sderot to do their shopping and otherwise show their support; and most of all his wife Nurit, whom he invited to the stage to accept the award together with him.