Summer of Opportunities

By Eve Harow
OIF Israel

Kibbutz G’vulot is in the southwest area of the Negev, just a few miles east of Gush Katif. The distance traveled by 125 boys and girls from these communities cannot, however, be measured in miles. In August, 2005, they, along with their families and 8000 other residents of the 30 year old enterprise to resettle Jews in Gaza, were forcibly removed by the IDF from their homes. The 21 towns were then razed and turned over to the Palestinian Authority.

The 2000 families, many of whom were involved in successful agriculture businesses, research, educational and Torah institutions and other ventures, spent many months in hotel rooms around Israel. Eventually most were housed in temporary caravan sites where they await receipt of the compensation promised them by the architects of the ‘Disengagement Plan’ of the Sharon government.

Many are still unemployed a year later. The stress of the destruction of their homes and communities has taken a terrible toll on the families, resulting in depression, divorce, health issues and even drug abuse. The children have been terribly affected by the strain and many are still so traumatized by the events of the past year that their functioning in school and socially has been deeply affected.

That’s why the laughter heard at Kibbutz G’vulot between July 17-26th could only bring tears to the eyes of anyone who heard it. One Israel Fund, in a major spring campaign, raised over $100,000 to bring 125 children aged 11-14 to an overnight camping experience that would put smiles on their faces. We teamed up with the Koby Mandell Foundation, known for their excellent therapeutic work in their camps for victims of terror, now running for the 5th year. They staffed and coordinated the camp, One Israel Fund paid for everything, and the Friends of Gush Katif supplied us with the logistical help in supplying the kids.

News of the war in the north was kept rather muted, although the booms from Gaza could be clearly heard. The IDF is still a sore point for these children since it was soldiers that removed them from their homes, and their anger at the authorities that betrayed them was one of the topics that was dealt with during the sessions that they had, interspersed with trips to amusement parks and pools and flat out fun.

Avital Sharansky volunteered to give Torah lessons- and many hugs- for the entire 10 day period. MK Natan Sharansky came for Shabbat, patiently playing chess with the children- at one point he had 7 opponents simultaneously- and sharing his stories of his days as a Prisoner of Zion in the former Soviet Union. His message; that knowing that the Jewish people were united behind his struggle gave him the strength to continue, was not lost on the kids, or staff. Together, we can do the impossible, triumph over any adversity.

One Israel Fund devoted many resources in the last year to helping the residents of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron get back on their feet: Scholarships for university students, coats, food and heat for the tent cities in the winter, youth programs, park building, money for reestablishing farming and more. The Summer of Opportunities Camp, that gave these kids a respite from their own ‘matsav’ and in their own words, “the best time we’ve had all year’, was its own reward.

For them to know that hearts and wallets far away were opened up for them brought Natan Sharansky’s message to life.

With our support, the spirit of Gush Katif will rise again.