30.03.2025 - Arrival
That moment when you see the coast of Israel for the first time. The deep blue sea on one side and the densely built-up towns and green cultivated fields in front of you. That feeling of having arrived in the holy land - it always brings tears to your eyes. Our pilot lands so softly and skillfully that you hardly feel it. And you are amazed: one and a half years of war, hundreds of thousands of reservists called up, and yet El Al flies reliably every day. The fields are green and tilled. And there are columns of traffic on the highways. A month ago, I gave a lecture on the resilience of Israelis. Everything we see now is living proof of that. Compared to last year, the airport is much busier. Of the many pictures of the hostages, almost 190 have already been put away. But 59 are still there as a reminder that this war cannot be over yet. When we arrived at this time last year, there were only four non-Israelis on board the plane apart from us. Now we are standing in the passport control queue again. And we are almost happy about it, because that is also a sign of a newly awakened life. But it's not quite as intact as the first impression seemed. You can feel the lack of staff, which leads to very long waiting times everywhere. We don't arrive at the hotel until around 10 p.m. and here we get some bad news: the cook is ill and there is no one to replace him, which means there is no breakfast and no dinner. We quickly realize how fragile plans are in Israel during this time. Nevertheless, in the end we hope to experience that all this contains a hidden blessing, as we have often experienced.
31.03.2025 - IDFWO Widows & Orphans Organization
A SMILE OF HOPE Today we are driving to Petach Tikva (Gate of Hope), one of the large cities in Israel, where the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization has its headquarters. Due to the fact that the appointment was postponed by several hours at the last minute, we had the opportunity to go first thing this morning to the place where God has said that his heart and eyes will always be: the Kotel. At 4:00 pm we meet with Shlomi, the CEO of the non-profit organization that was founded in 1991 as an initiative of the widows of that time to give them a voice and a channel in public. When soldiers or security forces fall in battle or are murdered in acts of terrorism, the IDFWO is informed immediately after the family. This means that someone from the 21-strong team can make direct contact with the widow concerned in order to support her. This ranges from attending the funeral to providing night nurses to enable young mothers to sleep through the night and many other practical support services. Pregnant widows are provided with midwives who accompany them until the birth. And Shlomi personally spoke to all hospital directors after October 7 to ensure that these widows receive preferential treatment. The IDFWO also sees itself as a partner to the widows, helping to raise the orphans. After the enormous loss, many of these children find it difficult to connect with other children of the same age because they experience that they can neither share nor understand their loss. The Otzma camps, where these children come together with other orphans, are therefore particularly valuable. Here they can be open, here they are understood and find friends. One of the highlights for Shlomi since October 7 was the moment, when he was able to witness how a little boy, who had lost contact with his peers since the death of his father, was able to play with others again for the first time at such a camp after learning that they were all orphans. And smiled again for the first time in endless months. These first tiny steps towards healing give hope and perspective - and the strength to continue with this incredibly important ministry, which we will continue to contribute to. Below you will find a few videos with English subtitles that give an insight into the work of the IDFWO and under “Impressions” a few pictures from today's meeting, where Shlomi presents us with a medal as sign of gratitude. OUTLOOK: More about Shlomi's personal background and motivation will follow in a later episode.
01.04.2025 - RIMON FARMS & THERAPY CENTERS
(Healing for the Traumatised)
OASIS OF LIFE Our destination today was the Rimon Farms in the south of Israel, far away from the densely populated urban areas in the center and east of the country. For driving through a desert, it is incredibly green. Israel has successfully realized the dream of state founder David Ben Gurion to make the Negev blossom with drip irrigation. To the left of the road, the vineyards flourish, to the right the wheat is waving. We get out of the car and are in another world. A wide sky arches over the countryside and the noise, stress and hectic pace of the cities are far away. You can breathe differently here and the peace and quiet is soothing. And this is also where the Rimon farms and therapy centers were created. Nir, the founder and managing director of the organization, welcomes us warmly and then we sit together with him, Tal, the Resource Development Coordinator, and Hemiya, a psychiatrist in the “open-air kitchen” of the farm. All around us are tents, flower beds, vineyards and vast green hills, the wind is blowing. And Nir shares about how first the Rimon farm for young people at risk came into being in 2021, what has happened since then and their plans for the future. The project began with a tragedy. On June 8, 2016, two Palestinians carried out a terrorist attack in the Max Brenner café in the Saronas area of Tel Aviv, killing four Israelis and wounding 19 others. Nir was also in the café, he remained outwardly unharmed. But one of the victims died in his arms on that terrible day; an experience that marked a turning point. He took the decision to dedicate his life to social work in the Negev, in order to align his life path with his heart. In 2023, the second therapy center, the Lahav Farm, was founded for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - originally planned for around 80 people. But actually, more than 4,000 people have been treated here since October 7! And the need is still enormous. Therefore, in 2024, the second farm for post-traumatic therapies was built: the Shekef Farm. They received the land for the farms from Kibbutz Lahav. And two more centers are currently being established: in the western Negev, next to the sites of the devastation of the October 7 massacre - to strengthen the inhabitants of this region. You can find more detailed information about the various therapy programs and the target groups in the accompanying PDF under the “Insights & Facts” button. The organization pursues three main goals: healing and empowering people, developing and cultivating the land, and strengthening the Negev desert region. Nir's great role model is none other than David Ben Gurion, who already had promising plans for this region 70 years ago, to which he attributed a great deal of potential. And you can really feel the pioneering spirit of the early days on the farms: the will to create something significant here, the cohesion, the vision. As in those days, everyday life here is simple, people live in tents. The agricultural work demands hard work, but as a reward, new life is emerging and this has a healing effect on those affected. Seeing how the little plants sprout, how lambs and calves are born and grow up, all this is a testimony to the power of renewal and conveys the hope that new beginnings can also arise in wounded souls. Nir says: “We cannot allow ourselves to stop dreaming”, because living out this dream is the basis of the restoration of so many. They accept anyone who asks into the programmes - which is a major material challenge, as the care provided by experienced specialists, psychiatrists, high-quality medical staff and social workers, as well as accommodation and meals, costs large sums of money. They are therefore dependent on financial support and appreciate every donation that contributes to their work. The task they have set themselves is huge - but the potential outcome is inspiring to all who get involved! Because the aim of these farms is to recreate the ancient, repetitive history of Israel: to rise anew from the ashes and ruins and, in the end, to have even more inner strength and courage to face life. OUTLOOK: The shaking story and moving testimony of S. (name remains confidential), who tells us about his own experiences on October 7 and his healing process at Lahav Farm, will follow in a later article.
02.04.2025 - BE'AD CHAIM
(Help for Evacuated Expectant Mothers and their Babies)
THE HELPING HANDS OF BE'AD CHAIM (For Life) After four days, the first time we are not on the road for hours. The Be'Ad Chaim organization is just a few minutes' walk from our hotel in Jerusalem. And there we meet Sandy Shoshani again, the director of the organization we have been in contact with for over a year. It is a meeting between friends, allies. She tells us about the many evacuees she has been able to help over the past 18 months and how this was made possible by the generous help of donors. How she got in touch with the hotels where these families lived and was able to provide support quickly and efficiently. And she gives us an insight into how many evacuated Israelis experience everyday life today. Even after 18 months, the north is still not safe and the south has not been rebuilt. She talks about how many schools were closed for a long time, how the children were torn from their environment and rhythm and how they had to cope with the absence of their fathers. And how these families waver between the determination to return to their original homes on the one hand and the possibility of gaining a new foothold in other places on the other. They remain torn between the two options. She talks about the soldiers who are so traumatized after months of deployment in Gaza that they can no longer find their way back to their old lives and how marriages and relationships fall apart as a result. But she also tells of those who, despite serious injuries and lost limbs, have the courage and strength to build a new life and work towards taking part in the Paralympic games. And of those who deliberately got married and gave birth to children during this time - as a sign of their trust that there will be better times again and that they want to contribute to this. She speaks about the constant rocket alarms and how difficult it is for heavily pregnant women to have to run to the shelters. How these alarms often hit you in situations where you can't get to safety and how helpless you feel. She has enormous inner strength, but you can hear from her sentences how difficult it is for the people of this country. But just as in the encounters of the last few days, her determination to persevere and provide support is palpable. What she and her team are achieving is amazing. There are meanwhile thousands of people who have received help through them. What gives her strength is the confidence that even in these times there is a – currently! - hidden blessing that will be revealed. PS: Finally a short letter that a representative of the mothers wrote to Be'ad Chaim: “You supported us during the most difficult period of our lives, when we had to leave our homes and moved to Jerusalem pregnant! Your support gives us strength and faith for the future. Thank you so much from all the mothers, residents who were evacuated from Kiryat Shmona.”
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03.04.2025 - KIBBUTZ NIR OZ with Smadar and Shlomo
THE CONTINUATION OF A WONDERFUL ENCOUNTER When we met Smadar and Shlomo unplanned in Jerusalem last year, we had no idea what would develop from this relationship. We are all the more grateful that this spontaneous connection has since become stronger and stronger and that through them we have gained an insight into the fates of the hostage families and bereaved families of terror victims. Today we are meeting them again and travelling south together to the kibbutz Nir Oz, where Smadar's parents were among the founders and where she was born and grew up. To the kibbutz where her brother and sister-in-law were brutally murdered. From which her sister-in-law was abducted to Gaza. Where so many of her childhood friends and acquaintances were killed, tortured and burnt to death on 7 October 2023. We are infinitely grateful to the two of them for giving us this authentic insight from the perspective of those directly affected, and we probably can't really assess it properly, how much it costs them, to deal with all the horror, destruction and loss again. Because in Nir Oz, one in four people were killed or kidnapped in horrible conditions. Half the houses have been burnt to the ground. Where once there was a Garden of Eden, there is now a lost, abandoned paradise, where only the cats of the families who lived here still roam. Nevertheless, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers, it is blooming and greening between the burnt houses as it used to. The flowers are sweet-smelling and the birds are singing about what happened here. A painful contrast. Nir Oz was probably the most beautiful kibbutz on this border; laid out like a park, a place of beauty and joy of life. Today it's as if you're standing here with one foot in the Garden of Eden and the other in hell. And Smadar says: welcome to my home! We see the house where her brother Avner and sister-in-law Maya used to live. We also pass the home of the Bibas family, whose fate was perhaps the only one to receive adequate attention from the world after 7 October. We also stand in front of the buildings where Sigal and Dolev lived with their children, as did Hadas and Tamir. And we see the memorial stone for Tamir and understand that he played a special role in the defense of this kibbutz, where the Israeli army arrived only after the terrorists had already moved on. From the roof of a bunker, we look across to nearby Gaza. There is a direct road there from Nir Oz. It takes less than 5 minutes to get there. Hundreds of terrorists came along this way and stormed the kibbutz. On this road 76 people were kidnapped dead or alive to Gaza. Later, countless civilians came along this street and looted the place after it had been devastated. And - before the massacre - the peace activists from Nir Oz picked up sick people from Gaza and brought them on this path to Israel to be treated in hospitals. But whatever they did for peace - it had no effect. Because terrorists are not human beings, but creatures whose breath of life is hatred and destruction. Then we stand with Smadar and Shlomo in front of the graves of Avner and Maya. And think of those, whose loved ones are still being held in Gaza and who therefore cannot even find closure. Finally, we have dinner together and they tell us about their children and the children of Maya and Avner. It is beautiful and impressive to see that they are all working to build or rebuild their lives. The children are in education, Smadar has started working again. And it is wonderful to experience that they can smile again - despite the pain that is still omnipresent. Even though their personal story came to an end after the IDF found Maya's body in the Hamas terror tunnels in May 2024 and brought it back, they are still active in the forum of the hostage's families. Their motto is: ‘until the last hostage’. OUTLOOK: Shlomo has organized a meeting between us and the Hostage Forum for Sunday, which we will also report on. And I will also write more about this very special kibbutz, which reminded us of a paradise like no other place and which was abandoned and destroyed by the IDF on 7 October 2023 like no other.
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04.04.2025 - With JULIA & SHAUL in Moshav Yated
MUSIC IN THE DESERT (Concert recording at "Videos") As we head south again today, we do so full of anticipation. Last year, we already experienced Julia and Shaul's house in Hevel Shalom, the so-called “peace region”; this three-country corner just 4 kilometers from both Gaza and Egypt, as a fortress of hope in the midst of the destroyed villages along the Gaza Strip. Miraculously, they were spared on October 7th and also miraculously, they have managed to preserve their visions and dreams. Although they live in an area where they have heard the noise of war and detonations from the nearby Gaza front almost constantly for almost 600 days, the songs they carry inside them are louder. This is remarkable, especially when you consider how hard the restrictions of the Corona years hit this virtuoso couple and how soon after came the Hamas massacre, which led to a three-month evacuation from their home. In the months that followed, there was often little room for music, even though it would have been very healing. But Israelis cannot live without music for long. There were even orchestras in concentration camps. In the founding years of the young state, when no music halls had yet been built, legendary concerts were held in the open air and the auditorium sat on the ground or in the branches of the surrounding trees. And so the demand is growing again and they are holding concerts all over Israel, the last one just the night before our visit up on the Golan Heights. They have an incredible amount to share. The strength, the warmth, the beauty of their souls has found a perfect means of expression in music. This is how they bring confidence and joy of life to their listeners. But in their hearts, they carry an even greater vision, namely the dream of a music grove, a now greened place in the desert, not far from their home, where they plan to build an outdoor music center. And they take us there and give a wonderful little concert for us. It is almost supernaturally beautiful, and the seed of their vision grows in our hearts. We feel that we are allies who want to spread light and hope with songs and stories. OUTLOOK: Experience this prophetic moment, this wonderful concert. We have uploaded a video for you and I will write more about this incredible experience.
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04.04.2025 - ROUTE 232
232: THE ROAD OF THE LOST On our way back to Jerusalem from Yated, we take ROUTE 232, the road that runs parallel to the border with Gaza, the road to the south that connects all the villages here. It is a picturesque route. Sand dunes that remind us that we are in the Negev desert and cultivated green fields alternate to the left and right. Vegetables are exported all over the world from this desert region. The horizon is wide, the view sweeps unhindered into the distance. It was a landscape to enjoy - until October 7. On that day, it became a road of terror on which hundreds tried in vain to flee from Hamas. There are countless videos from this day of death, which were recorded by the attackers and posted online. Both revelers from the Nova Festival, who tried to escape to the villages and residents of the targeted kibbutzim, who were fleeing were brutally massacred. Corpses lined the roadside. And many of the Israeli soldiers and security forces were ambushed and overwhelmed by the terrorists on this route. Later, when Israel took up the fight to free its hostages, the Israeli tanks of the IDF rolled south here and left their imprints in the asphalt. Today, this road is more or less deserted, as life has not yet returned to the heavily destroyed kibbutzim.
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04.04.2025 - NOVA MEMORIAL & YUVAL RAPHAEL
THE NOVA MEMORIAL: A PEACEYARD THAT CANNOT BE SILENT The area next to Kibbutz Re'im, where the NOVA FESTIVAL took place, has become a memorial. This blood-soaked ground, which was covered with around 400 corpses on October 7, still cries out to heaven. No other place where the killings took place on this scale, no other place where people were so defenseless, when the terrorists invaded on paragliders, pick-up trucks and motorcycles. A memorial plaque has been erected for everyone who was murdered here, a tree has been planted for each one as a sign of the continuation of life. And when you stand here and see these plaques close together, with the pictures commemorating those murdered, when you look into these young, cheerful faces that looked forward to the future with such confidence, you get a faint idea of what a horrific mass crime was committed here. But it is only an inkling. Because we, who were not there, will never understand the extent of the atrocities committed here. We will never be able to comprehend the agony felt by those who tried to save their lives, the fear of death felt by those who smeared themselves with the blood of others in order to be presumed dead or who hid under the corpses of others. Who desperately begged for help that never came. Who had to watch others being massacred, raped and mutilated. Many of them could not go on living with these images and later committed suicide. Today, a bright sun shines on this square. It is quiet. Visitors walk quietly from picture to picture. Some have tears running down their cheeks - even today. Chairs have been set up all around, and relatives can come here and try to be close to their deceased loved ones. Soldiers also visit this place regularly - to understand what happened and to know what they are fighting for: so that a 7th October can never happen again, although this remains the central goal of the terrorist organization Hamas, which she is proclaiming loud and clear. While much was still provisional last April, it is now taking shape more and more. Information boards have been erected that attempt to record in sparse words what happened. But above all, many of the individual memorial plaques now not only show a face and a name, but also tell a short story. In this way, the memory of all these victims remains alive and it is not just numbers and names, but the individual fates behind them become tangible when you read the content. I have photographed some of these plaques to give you this insight too. While we are still standing here, deafening detonations suddenly shatter the silence. You want to take cover, but it's already too late. You have 15 seconds to take cover in this square. 15 ridiculous seconds until the rocket hits. And the bunkers here offer protection from missiles at best, but they were ineffective against approaching terrorists. On the contrary, they became death traps in which dozens were murdered at once. No, it's not over yet. There are still 59 hostages being held in Gaza and so the war is still going on. YUVAL'S SONG OF THE NEW DAY But despite all the horror, some find the strength to get up again. For example, the singer YUVAL RAPHAEL, who will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025. She also danced at this music festival. She also only survived because she hid under the corpses of others. But today she sings about a new day dawning, the beginning of a new future. These people are the ones who help Israel rise from the ashes after every catastrophe. "A new day will dawn, life will go on! Everyone cries, don't cry alone Darkness will fade, all the pain will go by But wе will stay, even if you say goodbye But we will stay, even if you say goodbye" Here you can find the link to her song. Let yourself be inspired by this resilience, this power of survival.
05.04.2025 - JERUSALEM
JERUSALEM, CITY OF GOLD In this section we publish the pictures of the encounters that took place here in Jerusalem, even if not everything happened on Shabbat. In fact, this year we have little time to enjoy the city because we are on the road every day. But sometimes we manage to do something here before or after our appointments. For example, we have two wonderful encounters with MOSHE KEMPINSKI, the owner of the Shorashim store. He bravely holds the fort in the square of the Hurva Synagogue, although he has been struggling since corona and the war due to the lack of visitors. But for the few who do come, his store is still an important place to go. His words are always a great encouragement, we are always richly blessed. We also have a brief, spontaneous meeting with AVIEL SCHNEIDER, the editor-in-chief of Israel Today. As one of his sons is getting married this weekend, he and his wife Anat are extremely busy. Mazel Tov, good luck dear ones! We also stop by the AUSTRIAN HOSPICE once, as the beautiful garden is a great place to work and enjoy a little, while doing so. But the most important place for us remains the KOTEL, the WESTERN WALL. It is always a special experience to go to the place where God has said that his heart and eyes will always be there and to be close to him. And each time we can feel the blessing and receive new impulses. Shabbat Shalom, dear ones from Jerusalem! PS. FACTS & INSIGHTS about Jerusalem you will find under the Jerusalem tile in the travel inspiration section
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06.04.2025 - FORUM OF HOSTAGE FAMILIES in Tel Aviv
A HOME FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGES Today we have been invited to the Hostages Forum in Tel Aviv. Shlomo has organized the event. They are doing a lot, and it is certainly largely thanks to them that the memory of the hostages is so present everywhere here in Israel. If only it were the same internationally. Unfortunately, nowadays the public is often only aware of the demonstrations, where political voices strike a completely different note, and it is no longer about the hostages. But today and here we are learning what the goals of this organization actually are and how it came about. In the first days and weeks after the massacre, many hostage families came together in Tel Aviv and in their desperation sought belonging and community. Many no longer had a home. Volunteers began to care for these families by bringing food or hosting families in their homes. When it became clear that the duration of the war and an end to the hostage situation were not in sight, the company “Check Point”, which owns a high-rise building very close to the so-called Hostage Square, offered to make four floors available free of charge. This created a framework and it was possible to start offering permanent services here. A canteen was built, which still exists today, for which restaurants donate and where relatives of hostages can dine free of charge whenever they want. Therapy rooms were set up where hostage families receive free treatment. Temporary accommodation was organized. And the various departments have been set up: the media team, the international team, the diplomatic team, the legal team. They want to care for these families in every way and be a home for those who have lost their homes. And they want to raise public awareness of the fate of the families and achieve international support for the hostage families. A major challenge for them is to remain politically neutral. There are many different opinions within the families and the volunteers, but they try to focus on the well-being of the hostage families. The atmosphere we experience here is touching. Many volunteers give up their time and contribute their skills here. There is a palpable sense of cohesion, the knowledge of a common goal, a great sense of solidarity. And the determination to keep going - until the last hostage has been freed.
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07.04.2025 - With ARYE SHALICAR in Rosh HaAyin
PODCAST: STAGES OF RECOVERY On April 7, 2025 – exactly one and a half years after the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas – we are once again in Rosh HaAyin, meeting Arye Sharuz Shalicar for the second time in Israel. During our visit here last year, the focus was primarily on understanding, listening, and reporting. But this time, we are here for a different reason: we want to get involved. We want to help build the future. That’s why we have not only met with affected families, but also with remarkable organizations who are wholeheartedly supporting those whose lives have been most deeply shaken: widows and orphans of fallen soldiers, families of hostages, traumatized individuals, and evacuees – from all across Israel! These people and organizations have been giving their all for a year and a half – with love, courage, and tireless dedication. We want to build bridges to these initiatives. In Arye’s current podcast, we introduce them to you. Let yourself be moved. Let yourself be inspired. And if you feel called – become part of this movement of humanity. Every contribution counts. Every helping hand makes a difference. Together, we can bring hope and new life.
08.04.2025 - In Kiryat Gat with HADAS & SIGAL
(Widows & Orphans from Nir Oz)
STEPS INTO THE FUTURE We got to know Sigal and Hadas (via the Forum for Families, Hostages and Missing Persons) through the project with which we support Israeli orphans and have been in contact with them for months. Now we are finally here - to embrace them and show them how much we care about their fate. We meet in a café in Kiryat Gat that morning. It is oppressively hot, the air full of desert dust. They have come without their children and have chosen this neutral place for their first face-to-face meeting. And then these two young women sit in front of us. A conversation quickly gets going. Since we already know a lot about what happened in Nir Oz, we can quickly put the pieces of the puzzle together. But despite all this knowledge, it is not really comprehensible how brutally and definitively life can change in a single day. They have lost their home, their environment, their community and their loved ones. Everything they had built up, all the pillars of their lives and all their plans for the future were destroyed in a single day. Both they and their children find themselves in a completely different reality in which only one thing matters: surviving every single day. They talk about the children's fears of losing their mothers too and describe how there are better days and darker days. Their expressions also speak of these ups and downs. There are moments when the tears are very close, and others when the faces freeze, but sometimes it is as if a ray of sunshine lights up and for a fraction of a second you see a mischievous smile that makes the eyes sparkle. And suddenly you can imagine how they used to be: full of confidence and joy of life. The survivors of the Nir Oz massacre were first evacuated to Elad and then to Kiryat Gat, around 50 kilometers north-east of Nir Oz, at the beginning of 2024. Today, they live rent-free in a residential complex in the Karmel Gat district. Additional space has also been made available for certain kibbutz facilities such as a communal dining hall, a kindergarten, the youth clubs, the senior citizens' club and a clinic. But it remains a temporary place, not a home. Within the busy and densely populated city, they miss the greenery and idyll of the park-like kibbutz, their own gardens, the peace and quiet. A majority of the residents of Nir Oz voted in favor of rebuilding and returning to the kibbutz at the end of 2024. But Hadas and Sigal do not want to return to this place of horror, they would no longer feel safe there and they do not want their children to have to deal with the terrible memories on a daily basis. For them, life there cannot go on - they need a fresh start in a new environment. And they have already taken the first steps towards the future: they have found an option in Kibbutz Beit Nir a little further from the border that suits them and the residents of Beit Nir have voted in favor of taking in the 40-50 families, who do not want to return to Nir Oz. In recent weeks, the project (see link below: staying-together.com/rebuilding) has been launched. Kibbutz Beit Nir is to be expanded and in around two years they hope to find a new home there. They are very happy about this prospect and will use all their strength to build a new home for themselves and their children. We will accompany them and share their burden - as best we can. OUTLOOK: The stories of these women and their children provide an insight into the tragedy of October 7 and help to understand the depth of the impact. They put a face to the gloomy facts and figures and make the fates comprehensible. You can find initial information under “Insights & Facts”, and later two detailed articles will follow.
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09.04.2025 - Visit from RONY & OFER
(Evacuees from Kerem Shalom)
RONY'S & OFER'S VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION At the end of our journey RONY & OFER are coming to Jerusalem to visit us. We are very happy to see them and are grateful that we did not have to go to Ashalim, far down in the south of Israel. After 1.5 years, they are still evacuated. When we ask how they are, Rony sincerely says that she is tired. Tired of this life in an undefined intermediate stage, without the possibility of being able to start again, tired of waiting for the war to end, tired of improvising. And then we learn that the government's agreement with the landlords in whose property they currently have a small 50 square meter apartment expires in June 2025. This applies to all evacuees within Israel and means that more than 100,000 people will not know where and how to live from June onwards. It is a shock to hear this, because the war is still going on and their kibbutz Kerem Shalom has not been restored. They just shrug their shoulders, because there is currently little or nothing they can do. They will probably have to move to another temporary home. And yet they say: everything will be fine in the end and this experience will make us stronger. They just don't know how much longer it will take... From tomorrow, Ofer will return to IDF service as a reservist. He has continued to complete his annual reserve service beyond the mandatory age and his experience is very valuable to the IDF. We are full of respect for what he does. In the past, he initiated a paramedic course for members of the kibbutzim in the border region next to Gaza. These professionals were able to help many people on the spot on October 7, saving lives. He and Rony also rushed to the aid of others despite the hail of terrorists' bullets and have assisted them. For years, Ofer also was the head of security at the extremely exposed kibbutz Kerem Shalom. And now he is serving his country all over again. Quietly and without making a fuss, with incredible loyalty. Both he and Rony are driven by the conviction that they themselves must take responsibility and make a contribution. As long as Israel has people with such a great attitude, there will always be hope and a future.
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10.04.2025 - FAREWELL and OUTLOOK
LEHIT'RAOT - until next year in Jerusalem! These are our last hours in Israel. As always, when we have to leave this country, our hearts are heavy. We would have loved to stay longer, we would have loved to continue helping. But everyday life calls with all its obligations and necessities. An everyday life that has been far, far away for the last ten days. So many valuable impulses, so many special encounters, so much traveling: from one meeting to the next. Far too many impressions for such a short time. As hard as we tried, we didn't get the chance to record, reflect on and process everything. And so our travel diary “Facets of Recovery”, with which we wanted to take you with us, is full of content, but still not complete. Over the next few weeks, I will be writing corresponding ARTICLES on the main topics. You can look forward to it. And that is a consolation and an outlook for the near future. Even though we are back in Germany, our thoughts and hearts will continue to be in Israel. CONCLUSION: If we were to try to summarize a conclusion for you, it would be that the wounds are still bleeding and that some people here have become very tired. Tired of the attacks from all directions (Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Yemen) and the terror in Judea and Samaria. The losses have not yet been processed, 59 hostages are still being held by Hamas, the dead have therefore not yet all been buried, the evacuees are still living in temporary accommodation, the traumatized and wounded are working on their healing, the little orphans have not yet understood that their parents will not return, the widows are still longing for the embrace from their loved ones. The joy of life on the faces of the people here used to inspire us. Today you can hardly see any of it. Due to the deployment of reservists, many businesses (especially the smaller ones) have great difficulty keeping their operations running. Due to the collapse in tourism, hotels and tour guides are struggling to survive. After 18 months, it is not clear which way things will go: Hamas has not surrendered, Lebanon is not stable, the Houthis from Yemen are still firing rockets and Iran is threatening. You can't plan anything without expecting the next missile attack. We have also got into the habit of traveling with a blanket in the car, so that we don't lie in the road dust in an emergency and turn up at the next meeting looking inappropriate. The question about the air-raid shelter has also become routine. Even during those days when we were in Israel, there were rocket alarms almost every day. Never since the founding of the state has a war lasted so long - and achieved so little. It is this insecurity that is extremely stressful for people here. But at the same time, every single one says: "We will get through this too - just like everything else. And we will also learn from this experience and be stronger than before - in the end". They are determined not to give up, but they all hope that this end is not too far away. And then there are these wonderful organizations which we have introduced to you in this travel diary, who will not stop their activities to restore those affected until precisely this goal, to become stronger, is achieved. A goal that we have supported with all our heart and strength and will continue to do so. OUTLOOK We are leaving today but are already making plans for the future. Will our next trip be a private friendship trip to see all the wonderful people who have become friends? Or will we come with a tour group to show others what touches and impresses us here? Will more people have the courage to fly here again next year; will Israel finally have peace? In any case, as soon as it is possible, we will plan such a trip. A journey to the origins and history of the modern Jewish state, a journey to the heart of the Jewish people, a journey that also creates understanding for what has happened in the last year and a half. A journey to friends who have become dear to us, to the families affected and also to the organizations that are working with great commitment and passion to rebuild the country. And we also have the perfect tour guide for this: Corinne. She was the one, who accompanied and guided us on our first steps in Israel many years ago. And we will be forever grateful to her for introducing us to Israel the way she did. That first shared experience has turned into a friendship that we refresh at every opportunity. We met again this time, unfortunately much too briefly because we already had to go to the next meeting, but nevertheless. She came from Zichron Jakov, and we came from Jerusalem. And then we sat together in the middle of Tel Aviv in a nice café in the Sarona district. And again, we realized how deep the connection between us is. But back to the travel project: Many people return from Israel relatively untouched. Another destination that is part of general education and that can now be ticked off. This was not the case for us. During our first visit here, our hearts began to burn for Israel and our love has only grown stronger since then. We wish this experience for everyone else and would like to contribute to it with a trip organized by us. That's why we hope to take you with us next time, not just virtually, but in person. With this in mind, we say goodbye, Lehit'raot in Israel, see you next year in Jerusalem! Your Brigitte & Harald