(Hai Pa) - Shoham Street in Haifa: the disaster that left dozens of families homeless
A fatal missile strike destroyed a residential building and left dozens of families homeless. Judit Maherl, the tenant of the building, lost her home and her sense of security in an instant. In an emotional interview with "Hai Pa" she shares the pain and struggle for rehabilitation since that traumatic day.
"We still can't digest how we are still alive" • The story of Judith Maherl whose home was destroyed by the missile strike in Haifa ► Watch
"We lived there for 11 years, a home of memories and routine," says Yehudit through tears. "We had to move to a hotel for more than two weeks, and only three weeks ago we managed to find an apartment. It wasn't easy. The rental prices are sky high, and we couldn't find an apartment for a price comparable to what we paid. We finally found a good place, but all the contents are from donations, and there are still missing For us, basic things like mattresses, without help from people, an association, and especially from property tax, we simply have no way to fill the gap."
Judith not only lost her home, but also experienced deep mental trauma. In a trembling voice full of pain, she shares the mental struggle that has accompanied her since the difficult events she experienced. "The hardest thing for me is dealing with what I went through. It's not behind me, and I feel like I don't have the strength to deal with it. I need to go through at least 12 psychological treatments to start processing what happened. It's just terrible, especially when I lost my husband a few months before the missile hit the building where I live. It's a huge pain, such that there are no words to describe it. Mentally it's just bigger than me."
Going to sleep is a continuous nightmare, the sounds of the explosion echoing in my head and ears
The trauma haunts her day and night. "I have nightmares that repeat themselves over and over again. Every time I go to bed, the images from that day come to my mind. I see again the moments when the alarm started, and I got out of bed, and then - right in the middle of the alarm - the missile hit the house. We didn't have time to leave the scene The protected. Since then, going to sleep is a continuous nightmare. I can't sleep, the sounds of the explosion echo in my head and in my ears, and I feel like the whole world has fallen into the abyss with me."
In tears, Judith continues: "Everyone tells me that I'm a strong woman, that I've always been that way, and that I must continue to be strong. But I don't feel that way. I just told my psychologist that I'm like a wounded eagle - an eagle that's been shot over and over again. It can't fly, He's injured, weak, unable to take care of himself, and that's exactly how I feel. I don't know how this eagle will get stronger, how he'll heal his physical and mental wounds to fly again."
Trying to extract memories of a lifetime - the residents of the building that was hit by the missile

Still can't digest how we are still alive
The sense of shock still lingers. "We still can't digest how we're still alive. Our brains haven't processed what happened yet. I don't know how to get stronger, how to heal. They promised they wouldn't leave us, and there are good people helping – the municipality, welfare – but it's a difficult process. Sometimes it feels like I won't find the strength to get through this."
Judit repeats and painfully recounts the moments after the impact, when she and her family tried to save everything they could from the ruins. "My two sons managed to rescue their two computers, our beloved cat, and some other clothes that were in good condition, but everything else - it was impossible to save. The house was completely destroyed."
Despite the devastation, she finds comfort in the help the family has received from good people: "There are many good people who have donated to us – clothes, basic items, and even cutlery. I thank each and every one of them. But what we are missing right now, as I said, are mattresses. One of the boys sleeps on a board and a mat, and the other on a makeshift mattress. We hope that these things will work out later."
We had houses, a whole life, and one minute later - everything was gone
The economic situation became even more challenging following the event. "After the injury, I have one son left who works and supports the family. The other son, who worked until the injury, is still severely traumatized and unable to return to normal. In addition, the prices are only rising. In the old house, we lived in rent at a good price, but now the rent is much more expensive than we could pay before In the meantime, property tax helps us, and it gives us some breathing space."
The shock does not let up, and the sense of loss echoes in every conversation with the neighbors. "All the residents of the building are still in shock. We had homes, a whole life, and one minute later - everything disappeared. We were left with nothing, only with the question of how to start over."
"I want to express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helped us and stood by us in the difficult moments," Judit says excitedly. "Noit Ben Simhon and Iris Kadosh from the Haifa municipality, the welfare department, the mayor, property tax, all the good people, the associations, and also the local media and 'Hai Pa' - you were all a ray of light for us in the darkest period of our lives. There are no words to describe my appreciation To everyone who reached out and helped us raise our heads above water."
However, Judith does not hide her disappointment with the national media: "I feel angry that the difficult event we went through hardly received proper coverage. There was barely a short article of two minutes, and this is about an entire life that was erased, about years of memories that were buried under the rubble. I expected attention More heart, for coverage that will respect our pain and give voice to the disaster we experienced. It's not just our story - it's the reality of people who lost everything It's in a deeper and more meaningful way."
NUNUEf
A person who claims to have no money is not going to live in Ramat Eshkol... It is possible to rent an apartment at a discounted price in less prestigious neighborhoods with apartment contents.
What did you want, detailed coverage on a daily basis? There are hundreds of families in the north and in the surrounding area who have nowhere to live, and abductees who suffer greatly on a daily basis, war wounded, and families who lost their loved ones, some proportion..
You can also say thank you to the landlords who haven't raised your rent by a single shekel over the years and have allowed you to save more money.
Only health to you and your family.