When the Sirens Sound, Love Moves First — Mattress Project Praise Report

When missile sirens sound in Israel, families often rush into underground bomb shelters with little more than the clothes they are wearing. In this praise report from Ashdod, our Beit Hallel team is bringing mattresses, blankets, and simple comforts to families spending long nights in shelters. In cities like Ashdod, the sound of a siren has become part of daily life. Families may be in the middle of dinner, putting children to bed, or finally resting after a long day when the alarm suddenly pierces the air. Within seconds people leave their homes and rush toward bomb shelters. For many residents, these shelters are communal underground rooms—bare concrete spaces designed for protection, not comfort. When sirens continue through the night, families can spend hours there waiting for the all-clear signal. When our Beit Hallel team began visiting these shelters during nights of heavy sirens, we noticed something very simple but very difficult: people had nowhere comfortable to rest. Many shelters had no mattresses, no pillows, and no blankets. Families were standing or sitting on hard floors while waiting for the danger to pass. So our volunteers began doing something small but meaningful. We started bringing comfort. Through the support and prayers of friends around the world, our team has been delivering mattresses, pillows, blankets, and even board games to shelters across Ashdod. These simple items are transforming cold underground spaces into places where families can sit, rest, and find a moment of peace during the most stressful hours of the night. A mattress allows an elderly person to lie down instead of standing for hours. A pillow lets a tired mother rest her head. A small board game helps children laugh together with their parents and forget their fear for a little while. One local resident recently shared with us: “Thank you to everyone who supports this. Especially during these difficult times. Before we were just standing here for long periods. Now we can sit down. There are pillows and blankets. Thank you so much for your care.” These moments remind us that in times of crisis, people do not only need safety. They need to know they are not alone. This is the heart of what we believe God has called us to do during this season. When the sirens sound, love moves first. If you would like to stand with us as we serve families across Israel during this difficult time, here are some practical ways to help through Voice of Judah Israel: • $50 provides a food basket for one family. • $60 provides a mattress for someone resting in bomb shelters. • Support toward Beit Hallel’s $35,000 annual bomb-shelter rent and utilities helps keep these shelters open and available for families throughout the war. Thank you for praying for Israel and for standing with us. https://vojisrael.org #pastorisraelpochtar #voiceofjudahisrael #yeshua #prayforisrael #inspiration