Conservatives lend hand in Sderot

Israel ‘s Conservative movement is initiating day trips for Sderot residents to temporarily escape the stress of living under rocket fire. On Thursday the movement, known in Israel as Masorti, will take a busload of Israeli youth posted in the city for their national service duties to Jerusalem for a tour of the Old City. Similar trips for more residents are planned. Rabbi Barry Schlesinger, head of the movement’s Rabbinical. Assembly in Israel, was in Sderot on Monday volunteering to help families with special needs. Sderot has long been the target for Palestinian rocket fire just across the border in neighboring Gaza, but an upsurge in attacks in the past two weeks has killed two Israelis and injured several others. In retaliation Israel has launched several attacks on Palestinian targets in Gaza, exacting a heavy casualty toll.