Sderot grows in the shadow of Gaza

(JNS) - SDEROT, Israel-It's hard to believe that the population of this city, less than a mile from the border with Gaza and with less than 20 seconds to reach a bomb shelter if a rocket is fired from the Strip, has actually increased since Oct. 7, 2023.

According to city statistics, Sderot had 35,477 residents in 2023. Today, it has 42,000-an increase of nearly 20 percent.

One of those new residents is Hila Malka, who was born in the United States and grew up in Beit Shemesh as the daughter of American parents.

"We wanted to strengthen the city, and we fell in love with it," she told JNS. "It...