Sderot Indoor Recreation Center

In 10 short months JNF did what no one thought could be done – built the largest secure indoor recreation center for the children of Sderot.

Read a letter from the Mayor of Sderot to Jewish National Fund.

Over the past few years, the Israeli communities on the border with Gaza have endured continual Kassam rocket attacks. These attacks are untargeted, but some have hit residences and schools, killing 11 citizens and hurting hundreds more. The city of Sderot, located on the border with Gaza, has been hardest hit — its children growing up in the shadow of violence, fear, and uncertainty.

To directly impact the lives of the children of Sderot and provide them with the chance to simply be kids, Jewish National Fund has embarked on a massive project: building the largest indoor playground in Israel in Sderot. The all-inclusive Indoor Recreational Center opened on March 10, 2009 to provide Sderot’s youth with a place to have fun, connect with friends, enjoy stimulating classes, and be children, beyond the conflict. A place to feel strong and free, away from their daily helplessness and anxiety. And parents can have peace of mind knowing that their children are playing and learning in an environment that is safe and secure. 

The Need

In the Israeli town of Sderot, parents cannot send their children outside to play on a beautiful day. Soccer fields are no longer home to after-school games. There is no sound of laughter, cries, screeches, or any other usual childhood noise. The streets are not filled with children riding bicycles but rather with an eerie silence.

As rockets launched from the nearby Gaza Strip fall on Sderot, life is at a standstill, especially for the town’s 3,000 children, who are forced to remain indoors all day rather than risk the chance that they won’t be able to reach a bomb shelter quickly enough during a rocket attack. more...

Our Work

The 21,000 square-foot state-of-the-art indoor playground had its Grand Opening during Purim 2009. This $5 million project, is located in a secure industrial zone in an old textile warehouse, and features:

• Recreational and exercise facilities for children ages 16 and under
• Jungle gym equipment
• Soccer field and volleyball court
• Rock climbing wall
• Snack area and gift shop
• Movie and television area
• Disco, swing sets, a merry-go-round, and more.

The facility will be under the supervision of the Israeli Army Engineers for Security Clearances and the educational arm of the IDF will provide after-school tutoring services. There are three therapy rooms to help children suffering from trauma. more...

See more photos here.

Get involved and Donate to Sderot Indoor Recreation Center. For naming opportunities call your local office at 888-JNF-0099.