Worn-out holy books, old siddurim, and sacred objects will no longer have to wait at home or pile up in makeshift corners.
The Sderot Municipality and the Religious Council launched a new project this week that brings burial services into the neighborhoods, by placing 12 new, accessible burial facilities throughout the city.
Until now, many residents have had to go to the Genizah facilities in the cemetery or seek other solutions for Genizah removal. Now, as part of a first-of-its-kind pilot in the city, the facilities have been placed at central locations, near synagogues, community centers, and neighborhood hubs, with the goal of allowing every resident simple, dignified, and convenient access to the service.
The project is intended not only to make things easier for the public, but also to preserve the dignity of the Holy Books and sacred objects, reduce congestion at existing Genizah centers, and contribute to the cleanliness and appearance of the city.
The municipality and the religious council emphasize that this is only the first stage of a broader initiative. Additional facilities are expected to be added in the new neighborhoods and other areas throughout the city, with the aim of creating a broad urban layout that will provide an available solution for every resident.
Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi: "We continue to improve municipal services in all areas of life. The Genizah facilities project is an example of cooperation that creates a real solution to the needs of residents, enables the removal of Genizah with dignity and high accessibility, and also contributes to maintaining the cleanliness of public spaces. We will continue to work to provide Sderot residents with the highest quality and professional service.""
Head of the Religious Council, Nathan Bar Yochai: "From today, the Genizah services are right next to the house. The new facilities allow every resident to maintain the dignity of the sacred texts in a simpler and more convenient way. I thank the mayor for his ongoing commitment to upgrading religious services in the city and to the professional teams who took part in this important process.""
The message to residents is simple: Instead of looking for a solution or postponing the evacuation, you can now go to the facility closest to your home and deposit the Genizah in a respectful, orderly, and free of charge manner.
This is a small change in daily life, but one that provides better, closer, and more accessible service to all residents of Sderot.
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