Ashkelon, Israel’s Central Chabad House brought out illusionists and jugglers to entertain the city’s children on occasion of the 18th day of Israel’s offensive against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

According to Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Menachem Gurelick, organizers chose Tuesday for the show because the numerical value of chai, the Hebrew word for “life,” is 18.

Said Gurelick: “We wanted the day to be a day of vitality and happiness instead of the constant fear that has taken over our childrens’ lives.” …