Last night, Iran launched a powerful barrage of 35 ballistic missiles at Israel, resulting in two direct hits in the city of Rechovot.
One of the missiles struck the Weizmann Institute, damaging several buildings. But by the grace of G‑d and through an undeniable miracle, the campus was empty at that late hour—there were no casualties.
The second miracle occurred in a residential neighbourhood in the very heart of the city. The missile caused significant damage to several apartment buildings and impacted an area extending hundreds of metres, affecting both homes and shops. Yet again, by Divine mercy, there were no fatalities.
„The blast wave was incredibly powerful,“ said the mayor of Rechovot in a media statement. „Right in the centre of a densely populated neighbourhood, 40 residential buildings were damaged. But the city is already beginning to return to normal. We're clearing the debris and restoring daily life.“
Throughout the night, Home Front Command teams, firefighters, and police combed through damaged buildings to evacuate residents — many of whom were rescued while still in their pyjamas.
One local resident, Meir, described the miraculous events his family experienced:
„The rockets seem to follow my son. He came to stay with us from Tel Aviv after rockets fell near his home. I told him, 'Just drop everything and come here—Rechovot is quiet.' And now a rocket has landed right next to us… I’m not easily scared, but the force of that blast was terrifying. It’s heartbreaking to look at the house—completely destroyed.“
Thank G‑d, Meir and his entire family were unharmed.
Another resident, Moshe, who was injured in the blast, shared his experience: „I heard the explosion, was hit, and fell to the floor. I shouted to my friend, ‘Where are you?’… I thought he was dead. Then three young men came in and started calling out for survivors — I shouted back to them and they pulled me out.“
Thankfully, Moshe and his friend both survived.
„It was a devastating scene,“ said Colonel Bar David, the local Home Front Command officer. „The missile hit the building directly, but we managed to evacuate everyone safely.“
„Given the scale of the damage from a direct hit,“ added Major General Yair Hatzeroni, commander of the Central Police District, „the number of injuries was surprisingly low, and miraculously, there were no fatalities.“
Despite the destruction, as already noted, through Divine mercy and miracles—may His Name be blessed — no lives were lost. Only injuries were reported, most of them minor or moderate.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, King Moshiach, instructed that such miracles and signs be publicised — to give thanks to the Almighty, may His Name be blessed, and to hasten the coming of the Redemption.