Elijah Shimoni, a blacksmith, makes menorahs out of grad rockets. Photo: Negev Police.

Only weeks ago members of the Shimoni family were running from incoming grad rockets. But how times do change. Because now Elijah Shimoni, a blacksmith, is celebrating Hanukkah with them.

Following the conflict Shimoni went to the police in the southern town of Gilat, where he lives, and asked for parts of grad rockets fired from Gaza that had been collected during Operation Pillar of Defense. When Shimoni explained the reasoning behind the request–he wanted to make menorahs with the parts–his grant was requested.

“I wanted to show that you can do something positive and good with the grad rockets that threatened to kill me and the residents of the Negev,” Shimoni told Israel’s Channel 2 with excitement. “I wanted to prove that with darkness you can make something bright and positive such as the menorah.

“Building a menorah with Grad rockets  was not an easy job, but for me this is closure. My daughter ran from the missiles, I and my family and all the residents of the south fled to bomb shelters, looking for shelter from the missile threat, but I made it a symbol of Hanukkah. I proved you could light up the house with that terrible thing that threatened to hurt us. ”

Elijah has already received orders from Canada with many citizens wishing to purchase Grad menorahs. “It was a hit and I am swamped with requests,” he said.

He also added with a smile that Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza have not yet asked for royalties from the sales.