Dear Ben-Gurion University of the Negev community,

It has been 20 days since we woke up to the unimaginable murderous terrorist attack which resulted in the massacre of more than 1,400 Israeli citizens, more than 200 abductees, and tens of thousands displaced within their country.

We as a community have suffered losses: So far 16 students, staff members and 43 family members of community members were murdered. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families.

We have established a memorial page to honor them.

May we as a community comfort their families and relatives, and may they receive succour from heaven.

Six members of the university community and its extended family were abducted. We pray for the speedy return of our missing loved ones, and for the full recovery of the wounded.

More than 500 families of university community members have been displaced from their homes and are now living in temporary housing in Eilat, the Dead Sea and other parts of the country. Hundreds have been called up for reserve service and we hope they will return safely to their homes, family and friends.

We are doing our utmost to deal with this terrible reality by helping affected families, paying condolence visits, attending funerals, and volunteering in numerous capacities. But we are also looking ahead, to the day after the war, when we will want to commemorate those who have lost their lives, but also return to campus in a way that will allow research and teaching to take place in a safe and supportive environment for our entire community.

The challenges ahead will test, but also strengthen us. We will emerge from these trials with a deeper sense of community, and a deeper connection to the vision and mission of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

In this week's Torah portion, Abraham leaves his homeland and arrives in the land of Canaan and settles in the Negev. God promises to bless his descendants, and through them to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12: 2-3) - a blessing that will extend from here, from the Negev to the whole world. Although at present we might find it difficult to see the blessings in what we are going through, it is precisely from the sheer evil that we have experienced that the humanity inherent in us will allow us to rise up and spread our blessings to the families of the earth.

We would like to thank those of you who have risen to the challenge in these difficult times, providing strength and support to those who need it and continuing to work for the country and the university community. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has proven in the past that it has enormous strength and ability to cope with crisis. We are sure that together we will get through this trying time.

Hoping for better days and good news,

Shabbat Shalom,

Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President

Prof. Chaim Hames, Rector

Tal Ben-Haim, Director General