Jenny and Oz Naor know what it’s like to live with the constant fear that a rocket will come out of the sky and kill them.
Tuesday they shared that experience with Akron’s Jewish community at a rally to support Israel after two weeks of attacks from Hamas in Gaza.
“We are doing everything we need to protect our citizens,” she told more than 100 people gathered at a Code Red Solidarity Rally at the Shaw Jewish Community Center.
Code Red refers to the alert status in southern Israel as hundreds of rockets rain down from across the border. Israel is responding with attacks inside Gaza.
Many inside the auditorium wore red as an indication of support.
Rabbi Stephen Grundfast of the Beth El congregation told the assembly of recent cease-fire overtures and said, “We need the peace of the brave,” referring to Israeli leaders.
Then he added “but we need brave people on the other side as well.”
Rabbi Mendy Sasonkin of Revere Road Synagogue followed with a call for the pillars of defense that he said include study and prayer of the Torah.
Jenny Naor then introduced Michael and Rotem Burde of the Kibbutz Zikim in southern Israel and a town under frequent attack.
The Naors, Israel emissaries to the Akron Jewish community, came from Zikim two years ago and intend to return there in a few months.
Appearing via Skype, Rotem Burde thanked the group for showing support with red shirts.
She spoke of constantly having to be aware of the nearest bomb shelter with only 10 to 15 seconds’ warning of a rocket attack.
“Almost every day we wake up to the sound of the Code Red alarm,” she said.
Rally attendees also signed a petition to President Barack Obama.
It concludes: “We look forward to your continuing deep engagement to bringing about peace and security for the innocents in Israel who have been living amidst the nightmare of bomb shelters and missile alerts, as well as your strong support for the State of Israel and the people of Israel during this ongoing crisis.”
The participants then gathered on the auditorium steps for a group photo.
Before they left, people were given information about the Israel Terror Relief fund, whose address is Wall Street Station, PO Box 148, New York, NY 10268.
Dave Scott can be reached at dscott@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3577.