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Message from Andrea Freedman CEO BGU Canada
Dear friends,
I had hoped not to write another update to our BGU community so soon, but events have taken a different course.
The aftermath of the recent Iranian attack continues to unfold, with significant damage reported across the Marcus campus in Be’er Sheva. Of the 85 buildings on campus, 60 have sustained damage. Common issues include shattered windows, collapsed ceilings, structural cracks, and broken doors.
All six buildings belonging to the Faculty of Health Sciences have been affected and will require extensive renovation. Professor Ehud Ohana’s laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology was sadly destroyed. While specialized teams are working urgently to recover DNA samples from freezers, it is likely that much of the research has been irretrievably lost.
I am also sharing with you BGU President Professor Daniel Chamovitz’s latest update. Unfortunately, today’s missile strikes in Be'er Sheva have caused even more physical destruction. The full scope is still being assessed, but it is already clear that the needs are substantial.
If you are in a position to help, we encourage you to consider making a donation to support the university’s recovery and rebuilding efforts. |
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Dear Friends,
Unfortunately, the pace of events here continues to outstrip the pace of my updates.
After a long day on campus yesterday assessing damage and coordinating our response, I chose to host a webinar from my apartment in Be’er Sheva, hoping for a quiet night’s sleep. That hope was short-lived. At 5:30 AM, I was awoken by sirens, followed by a building-shaking explosion.
I stepped out onto my porch. Many of you have stood with me on that same porch as I proudly pointed to the BGU skyline. This morning, the view was different. This is what I saw:
A missile had landed just three buildings down the street, directly across from one of the Gav-Yam Advanced Technologies Park buildings. The building next to the impact site is now uninhabitable. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured, as residents had taken shelter in time.
Minutes after the blast, I sat with many university staff whose homes were damaged. I asked if they were physically okay, what they needed, and how the university could help. I was deeply moved by their composure just minutes after their apartments had been destroyed. Some were evacuated to our U-Tel on the North Campus, others to the Leonardo Hotel, and others to stay with family across the country.
This alone would have been enough for 24 hours.
But at 15:40, sirens sounded again in Be’er Sheva and other parts of the country. This time, two pieces of missile debris landed on campus—most significantly, one pierced the roof of the old Sports Center and crashed into the gymnasium, destroying the flooring. Thankfully, the gym was closed and empty at the time.
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