"It's a fight for humanity:' Pittsburgher living in Israel sends message to Jewish community back home
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Thirty-five seconds.
That's the time a Pittsburgh woman in Israel says is recommended to get to a bomb shelter in her village when a missile siren goes off. She's still processing what's happened in recent days and wants to send a message to our community at home.
Sarah Ertel thinks back to Saturday morning when the sound of rockets filled the air surrounding her village in southern Israel.
"Those were moments that, you know, I prayed for my life," Ertel said. "I woke up to someone coming in the door of my room and shaking me saying, 'Sarah, we have to go to the bomb shelter, there's been a siren.'"
A Pittsburgh native, Ertel became an Israeli citizen in August of 2022, and two months ago became a national service worker and resident in a rehabilitation village for people with special needs and disabilities called ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran. It's where she was, 25 miles away from Gaza, when the world turned upside down for Ertel and Jews around the world, as Hamas terrorists infiltrated the region.
"I can hear, you know, explosions from my village, and the windows, you know, shake and rumble," Ertel said.
About a four-minute drive away in Ofikim, Hamas took hostages and killed hundreds at a music festival. Six girls escaped to Ertel's village.
"They don't know where their friends are. They don't know if their friends are alive. They don't really know the full scope of what happened," Ertel said.
Days later, the impact is still unfolding. Ertel said rocket sirens quieted down, but some of their staff is missing and emotions remain high.
"It's been feeling like one long day since Saturday morning," Ertel said.
Through it all, she's inspired to see the community come together.
"As a Jewish person, you just feel so at home and so accepted," Ertel said.
It's something she experienced nearly five years ago after the synagogue shooting here at home and is what motivated her to move to the Jewish state.
"There's no better place for a Jew than with other Jews," Ertel said.
Now solidarity is what's holding her together as she encourages Jews in Pittsburgh and worldwide to stay strong.
"It's not just Israel, it's everywhere, and it's a fight for humanity," Ertel said.
In her village, Ertel said they take care of more than 300 people with severe disabilities.
For folks wondering how to help, Ertel said if you can, volunteer or donate, and make your voices heard.