My Visit at Neve Hanna

By Cameron Fields

January 20, 2019, I had the opportunity and privilege to be able to visit Neve Hanna, in Kiryat Gat. The minute our bus pulled up to Neve Hanna’s campus, I could feel the love that Neve Hanna radiated. As I stepped off the bus and looked around, I could see why it feels like home for so many children. Neve Hanna made intimidating, unwelcoming structures, which could have been gloomy and scary, into a place with an incredible aura of welcoming.  The Neve Hanna campus is very beautiful, with flowers blooming everywhere, and beautiful works of art. The atmosphere immediately felt warm and welcoming, giving you a giant hug of security, like Neve Hanna does for so many Israeli children.

We first headed to the petting zoo, which I absolutely loved. I love animals of all kinds and being around the animals and being able to interact with them, was so much fun. I got to hold one of the lizards, and fed the baby goat, who was undeniably adorable. I also got to see the pony who was very cute, and I fell in love with the rabbits. I kept on thinking how great it was that children living on the campus that Neve Hanna provides for them, have the opportunity to take care, and love these animals, and make kesharim, connections, with other works of God.

Next, we walked to the synagogue at Neve Hanna, where Rabbi Liron Levy taught us about the VeAhavta paragraph of the Shema. We broke down the words of the Shema, to see what body parts the prayer was referring to. It was a truly educational experience that I don’t think I will ever forget. After the teaching, we moved into lunch.  We had a delicious meal filled with a lot of high protein foods, that helped contribute to a great diet. Neve Hanna provides their children with great food and meals, so that they learn to eat and live a healthy lifestyle.

Lastly, we ended our tour, by visiting the bakery, where we had heard so much about the amazing opportunity this bakery provides for the children at Neve Hanna. We learned all about how the children work at the bakery and learn to earn and save money. The bakery was extremely interesting to hear about, and they produced very tasty treats. I actually brought home some babka for my friends at home, and they could not stop talking about how delicious it was! We then ended our day playing on Neve Hanna’s huge basketball court, where I played a very fun and exciting basketball game with my cousins, brothers, dad, and aunt.

When our tour guide told us it was time to get on the bus to head to our next location on the trip, I honestly did not want to leave. I loved being at Neve Hanna, and their campus is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.  Learning about the amount of opportunities and skills that Neve Hanna provides for these children is truly heartwarming. I think that what Neve Hanna is doing is something spectacular. Giving these children a home where they are loved, given proper nutrition, work experience, and lifelong friendships is something truly special. Neve Hanna will always have a special place in my heart, and I fell in love with everything this organization does for Israeli children. I had an amazing time visiting Neve Hanna, and I cannot wait to visit there again soon!