Sderot residents have 15 seconds to run for cover from the time a Hamas rocket is launched and the air raid siren sounds, until the rocket hits.

When an air raid siren sounds, Israeli children are trained to run for cover, count backwards from 10 and then start singing, in order to drown out the sound of the explosion.

For the past 17 years, over 14,000 rockets have been launched towards Sderot and the western Negev. The Kassam rockets have claimed the lives of 28 Israelis; 9 of which were residents of Sderot, and 3 of whom were children. In addition, over 600 Israeli citizens have been injured and thousands have been psychologically traumatized by the rocket explosions. 

Seventeen-year-old Ella Abekasis was returning from a Bnei Akiva youth group meeting on a Saturday night when the "Code Red" siren sounded in Sderot. She threw herself on top of her brother when a Kassam rocket landed near them and saved his life. In doing so, however, she sustained injuries from the rocket and died a week later.

Ella's heroic action shocked the entire country. With no regard for her own life, this brave teenager threw herself onto her brothers to protect his life. In that moment, fear ceased to exist and only the devotion and care for a young brother dictated her actions. Though she died, Ella's heroism lives on and has become an inspiration for an entire nation.

Now, you can help spread that inspiration with the 15-second shirt from the NU campaign. The shirt celebrates Ella's actions while lamenting the situation that made them necessary.

The NU campaign raises awareness and funding for important Israeli causes. To get involved and help spread the word please contact us at info@nucampaign.org!

www.nucampaign.org