Sderot Rabbi Recounts Harrowing Hamas Attack, Near-Death Experience
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Rabbi Haim Sassi of Sderot recounted his harrowing experience during the Hamas attack on Simchat Torah, where he treated the wounded and was himself shot multiple times. Believing he was dying, he recited a prayer before being rescued and evacuated to the hospital. Sassi is now in rehabilitation, dealing with cognitive challenges, but continues his volunteer work and observes a growing public interest in Torah study.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Haim Sassi was shot multiple times while treating wounded officers during the Hamas attack on Sderot.
- He witnessed numerous fatalities and managed to save only one person in the initial hours.
- Sassi believed he was going to die and recited the "Shema Yisrael" prayer while under fire.
- He assisted a critically injured officer by helping him breathe before both were evacuated.
- Sassi is undergoing rehabilitation for cognitive and memory impairments resulting from his injuries.
- He continues to volunteer with United Hatzalah and notes a significant public "thirst" for Torah.
Rabbi Haim Sassi, a rabbi at the Hesder Yeshiva in Sderot and a volunteer with United Hatzalah, described the "moments of inferno" he experienced during the Hamas attack on Simchat Torah. Leaving his home around 7:15 AM in his Shabbat clothes to treat the wounded, Sassi encountered numerous casualties along his route. By the time he reached the police station, he had already witnessed six or seven fatalities, managing to save only one person.
Around 7:30 AM, while treating injured police officers near the station, Sassi was shot in the leg while attempting to reach an officer across the street. He was subsequently shot in the arm and face. While trying to drag the injured officer to cover behind a dumpster, Sassi sustained two more bullet wounds. He remained pinned down for about an hour and a half, receiving water and bandages from a distance as direct aid was impossible due to continuous gunfire.
During this period, Sassi believed he was going to die and recited the "Shema Yisrael" prayer. After being rescued, he continued to assist the officer, whose breathing was labored due to a back wound. Sassi managed to help the officer breathe by blocking the wound with his finger, after which both were evacuated to the hospital.
Sassi is undergoing a long rehabilitation process, noting that the cognitive and memory impairments are more significant than the physical injuries. Despite these challenges, he continues to volunteer with United Hatzalah, though he now uses a car instead of his motorcycle. He also expressed a strong desire to spread Torah, observing a significant "thirst" for religious study across Israel, citing an example of secular students enthusiastically participating in writing a Torah scroll in Sha'ar HaNegev.
