Their Home Was Gone Overnight

For Ortal, a Jewish mother of three living in Bat Yam, Israel, her home was far more than simple shelter. "I raised the children there. It was always a house full of love and warmth," she recalls. "People, guests… everyone loved being in our house. It was our anchor, our safe place."

That sense of security was shattered in an instant when a ballistic missile obliterated her home during the 12-Day War. Ortal and her family only survived because they reached a shelter just in time. "I can't describe the noise to you," she says, reflecting on the moment of impact. "Smoke, dust, um, rocks... Screaming... and it was dark. And then I looked for the kids. And they screamed, and I screamed too."

In the chaotic aftermath, the family was faced with the devastating reality of their loss. As Ortal describes, "People were injured, people were dead... scenes that a child definitely should not see. And the kids were hysterical, saying: 'We don't have a home.'" For a long time, Ortal remained in a state of profound shock.

Following the attack, the family’s survival drew significant media attention. "And they really, really pursued us, but I didn't agree," she explains regarding the influx of interview requests. "However, I agreed to CBN."

While housed in an unfurnished apartment provided by the government, the family connected with CBN Israel. The organization furnished their temporary housing to make it feel like home again and even replaced a computer for Ortal’s daughter, Mika, a science and technology major. Reflecting on this support, Ortal shares, "CBN has been that breath. They have been my first peaceful breath in a long time." Because of this assistance, Ortal’s family now has a place to sit together again and begin to breathe easier.