Help Us Build a Safe Room For Our Children In Israel

Help Us Build a Safe Room for Our Children in Israel

We are a young family living in a small town near an air force base in northern Israel — a region that has become a frequent target during missile attacks. Despite our education and careers, we are unable to afford building a "mamad" (a fortified safe room) in our home. Every time rockets are launched, we must evacuate and rely on relatives for temporary shelter, leaving us unable to work and unable to give our children stability or safety.

A little about us: Michael is a biologist developing non-invasive early-detection cancer tests. He made Aliya from St. Petersburg as a child in 1990. Nitzan is a clinical psychologist working with trauma survivors and bereaved families. She is a fifth-generation Israeli, born and raised in a kibbutz by the northern border.

We both hold PhDs, and after years of academic study and hard work, we were able to buy a modest, older apartment — one that was built without a safe room. Unfortunately, we receive no government support for building a shelter, and our families are not in a position to help us financially.

Our two boys, ages 9 and 5, are trying to stay brave, but the toll is visible — anxiety attacks, sleep disturbances, and growing fear. During the most recent rocket barrages, we had to lie on the floor and shield our sons with our own bodies. It was terrifying — for them, and for us.

Before October 7, 2023, we could manage the occasional evacuation. But since then, the danger has become constant — and unbearable. This is our home. We don’t want to leave it. We want to stay — and keep our children safe.

We are asking for your help to raise $53,000 to build a small reinforced security room (mamad) in our apartment. This would allow us to stop running, protect our children, and return home with a sense of safety and dignity. Our dear friend Naomi Goldner will be helping us by raising the funds on our behalf, since this platform doesn't yet support Israeli banks.

Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to safety.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.

Nitzan Shrira and Michael Selitrennik