Toronto-born rabbi gives bomb shelters to Israelis

TORONTO — A Toronto-born man is saving lives in Israel. Rabbi Shmuel Bowman, left, is executive director of Operation Lifeshield, a non-profit organization that raises funds to build and deliver above-ground air raid shelters to Israeli municipalities that have been targeted by Hezbollah and Hamas bombardments in the past.

 

Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away

War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away

­– from Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones.

A Toronto-born man is saving lives in Israel.

Rabbi Shmuel Bowman, left, is executive director of Operation Lifeshield, a non-profit organization that raises funds to build and deliver above-ground air raid shelters to Israeli municipalities that have been targeted by Hezbollah and Hamas bombardments in the past.

Two weeks ago, Operation Lifeshield placed its 68th shelter near a school in Ashkelon, which was bombarded during the war in the Gaza Strip in 2009.

“We know we save lives,” said Rabbi Bowman, a Torontonian who made ali­yah in 1993 and has headed Operation Lifeshield since its formation in 2007. “If you’re in a shelter during an attack, you won’t be killed.”

Operation Lifeshield, the only non-governmental organization in Israel active in this endeavour, was founded by two Israeli American businessmen, Shep Alster and Josh Adler, following the 2006 war in Lebanon.

By chance, they found themselves in the Galilee when war broke out and, like thousands of Israelis, had no place to hide when Hezbollah rockets struck Israel day after day.

Stung by this harrowing experience, they established Operation Life­shield, which works in co-operation with the Is­raeli government and the Israel Defence Forces’ Home Front Command.

Operation Lifeshield supplies two types of shelters – 30-ton models that hold up to 15 adults and 70-ton models that protect as many as 50 people.

The lighter model cost $19,000 to build, while the heavier one cost $38,­000.

Both models are made of steel-reinforced concrete and can withstand direct hits and prevent shrapnel and bomb fragment injuries.

The majority of the shelters, 50, have been placed in southern Israel, in Sderot and environs, said Rabbi Bowman, who was in Toronto last week on a North American speaking tour to publicize Operation Lifeshield.

Prior to 2009, Sderot and a host of nearby communities were continually bombed by Hamas and Is­lamic Jihad, both of which are based in Gaza.

The remaining shelters have been placed in northern Israeli towns such as Safed and Karmiel, both of which are within range of the Lebanese border.

The shelters are open to Jews and Arabs alike, said Rabbi Bowman. “This is a humanitarian project.”

For the past year, Operation Life­shield has focused its efforts on sending  shelters to Ashkelon.

“The people of Ashkelon became painfully aware that they are very vulnerable,” he explained. “We’ve covered Sderot. It’s done. There is no need for us to be there anymore. Now the focus is on Ashkelon.”

In 2010, Operation Lifeshield will place 16 more shelters in Ashkelon.

Next year, Operation Lifeshield plans to concentrate on Ashdod and the Haifa region.

But as Hamas and Hezbollah upgrade their rockets, Operation Lifeshield may well expand its activities to the coastal region around Tel Aviv, Rabbi Bowman said.

“The entire country needs coverage,” he added.

In general, shelters are required in parks and other open areas, as well as in or near schools, youth clubs, senior cen­tres and synagogues.

Rabbi Bowman expects further ten­sion to erupt in southern and northern Israel as Hamas and Hezbollah acquire a larger arsenal of still more deadly wea­pons and Iran takes further steps to acquire nuclear arms.

“Israel is in a very difficult position,” said Rabbi Bowman. “Israel faces conventional and nuclear threats.”

Hence the urgent need for more bomb shelters.

For further information about Operation Lifeshield, visit www.operationlifeshield.com