Edith ‘Pat’ Wolfson and Roselle and ‘Benjamin’ Bernard Roseman Fund Aids Children in Sderot

B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Director Alan Schneider traveled to the Gaza border city of Sderot last week to present the B’nai B’rith Edith “Pat” Wolfson and Roselle and Benjamin Bernard Roseman Endowment Fund for Israeli Youth, to the five orphans of Maor Jacob, a resident of the city who died five months ago at the age of 38 after a heroic battle with cancer.

The family was gravely affected by the Hamas terrorist assault on Sderot, which left 72 residents dead—20 of them policemen—and dozens wounded. They spent nerve-wracking hours in a safe room until rescue forces arrived. Since that day, the family has been dealing with the consequences, compounded by Maor—who worked at the SodaStream factory near Be’er Sheva—contracting and battling cancer.

His wife, Tali, is partially blind and, until her disability became more severe, worked at a nonprofit for the blind and visually impaired. The children—Tohar (11.5), Hila (10), Uriya (6.5), Bnaya (5.5), and Nave (1.5)—are experiencing anxiety, difficulty sleeping and a pervasive sense of insecurity. Tali is doing her best to rebuild their lives, return to routine and give the children a renewed sense of stability.

The B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem worked closely with the Sderot municipality to identify the Jacob orphans as this year’s endowment recipients.

The World Center-Jerusalem has overseen the B’nai B’rith Edith “Pat” Wolfson and Roselle and Benjamin Bernard Roseman Endowment Fund for Israeli Youth since its inception in 2005. Since its founding, the fund has provided aid to more than 60 Israeli youths who have tragically lost loved ones in terror attacks, in Israel’s struggle for self-defense, or due to acute personal tragedy.