They came to pray for Ayala Chaya Abukasis, 17, who was critically wounded in a recent Kassam rocket attack on the city. "We are in need of a miracle," friends have said. Ayala was wounded as she threw herself on her 11-year-old brother to protect him from the rocket. He was wounded as well, but his condition is improving.
The prayers were also recited on behalf of the Kassam-beleaguered city of Sderot in general. Hundreds of Kassam rocket attacks have hit the city and environs over the past months. People from Jerusalem and nearby areas also joined up with the prayer service.
"It was raining heavily," one participant said, "and an official kindly allowed us into the Hasmonean Tunnels entrance, to the Wilson's Arch area just to the left of the men's section. Those who were more familiar with the prayers helped those who were less so, and it was a very uplifting and uniting event. Our job today was to pray, and to hope, and G-d will act as He sees fit."
Yesterday's protest march by hundreds of Sderot residents and others ended up as a prayer service as well. The protestors had originally set off towards Beit Hanoun – source of the Arab-fired Kassam rockets – but the police stopped them, as expected, about 300 meters away. At that point, news came that the condition of Ayala had deteriorated – and participants began reciting Psalms.
At that point, Labor MK Amir Peretz and the dozens of "Adam" civil-rights activists with whom he marched tried to out-shout them by yelling left-wing slogans. However, when they were informed that the other participants were actually praying, many of them joined in as well. "It was a true and beautiful show of unity in prayer," one participant later said.
Doctors at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva have declared the girl "brain-dead," as a piece of shrapnel apparently entered her brain, and even asked the family for permission to use her organs for patients who need them. The family was upset that "in the middle of our ongoing prayers, the doctors asked us to donate her organs." Ayala's father said that though she is on life-support systems, "Her cheeks are red, her systems are working, and she is alive." He said that the family is in constant contact with leading rabbis, many of whom came to visit and prayed at her bedside.
Doctors at the hospital said they approached the family "with maximum sensitivity," in accordance with a nationwide policy of promoting the issue of organ transplants.
"We know that we need a miracle, and people are praying around the clock," said one friend of the family.
Ayala's mother expressed her ire at Prime Minister Sharon, who lives on the Shikmim Farm just east of Sderot – Sharon's son Omri went to elementary school in Sderot – but who has not yet phoned the family. "I'm very angry at Ariel Sharon," she told Ynet. "He hasn't come and hasn't even called. He's the one who is responsible for our children's safety. He has given no solutions. Now, maybe because he has nothing to say to us, he doesn't call. I expect that a Prime Minister of Israel should be strong enough to speak with parents who are struggling for the life of their daughter."
The prayers were also recited on behalf of the Kassam-beleaguered city of Sderot in general. Hundreds of Kassam rocket attacks have hit the city and environs over the past months. People from Jerusalem and nearby areas also joined up with the prayer service.
"It was raining heavily," one participant said, "and an official kindly allowed us into the Hasmonean Tunnels entrance, to the Wilson's Arch area just to the left of the men's section. Those who were more familiar with the prayers helped those who were less so, and it was a very uplifting and uniting event. Our job today was to pray, and to hope, and G-d will act as He sees fit."
Yesterday's protest march by hundreds of Sderot residents and others ended up as a prayer service as well. The protestors had originally set off towards Beit Hanoun – source of the Arab-fired Kassam rockets – but the police stopped them, as expected, about 300 meters away. At that point, news came that the condition of Ayala had deteriorated – and participants began reciting Psalms.
At that point, Labor MK Amir Peretz and the dozens of "Adam" civil-rights activists with whom he marched tried to out-shout them by yelling left-wing slogans. However, when they were informed that the other participants were actually praying, many of them joined in as well. "It was a true and beautiful show of unity in prayer," one participant later said.
Doctors at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva have declared the girl "brain-dead," as a piece of shrapnel apparently entered her brain, and even asked the family for permission to use her organs for patients who need them. The family was upset that "in the middle of our ongoing prayers, the doctors asked us to donate her organs." Ayala's father said that though she is on life-support systems, "Her cheeks are red, her systems are working, and she is alive." He said that the family is in constant contact with leading rabbis, many of whom came to visit and prayed at her bedside.
Doctors at the hospital said they approached the family "with maximum sensitivity," in accordance with a nationwide policy of promoting the issue of organ transplants.
"We know that we need a miracle, and people are praying around the clock," said one friend of the family.
Ayala's mother expressed her ire at Prime Minister Sharon, who lives on the Shikmim Farm just east of Sderot – Sharon's son Omri went to elementary school in Sderot – but who has not yet phoned the family. "I'm very angry at Ariel Sharon," she told Ynet. "He hasn't come and hasn't even called. He's the one who is responsible for our children's safety. He has given no solutions. Now, maybe because he has nothing to say to us, he doesn't call. I expect that a Prime Minister of Israel should be strong enough to speak with parents who are struggling for the life of their daughter."