By Rabbi Jill Kreitman, AFNH Executive Vice President
As an RK (a rabbi’s kid) I am grateful that my father z’l passed down to me his most precious gift. The gift my father so cherished was his association with Neve Hanna. My father, Rabbi Benjamin Z. Kreitman z’l had an unbounding compassion for the children at Neve Hanna. As the founder of American Friends of Neve Hanna – my father looked to the future through the eyes of these children. My father was concerned with their well being both mental and physical and he insisted that these children of Neve Hanna prosper and succeed in life. Together, my father and I would visit Neve Hanna to see the development of the children. On one visit, a child of Neve Hanna ran to greet my father and held his hand as we walked around this magical place. It was at that moment that I began to see the future of these children through my father’s eyes. I made a vow that I would join my father on this mission and inherit from him a role in Neve Hanna.
See, I dance in two worlds. I am a reform rabbi, daughter of a conservative rabbi. I have a deep love for the Conservative and Masorti Movement, yet the path I chose for myself was the reform movement.
Recently, I visited Israel for the CCAR (The Central Conference of American Rabbis) convention. The convention was so meaningful yet I knew from the start that my mission was also to visit Neve Hanna. Yes, it was the first time I visited without my father, but I was able to behold his vision and see how Neve Hanna has grown. I felt a palpable closeness to my father as I wandered about the gardens of Neve Hanna.
To start, I was greeted at the gates by Janet and Irwin Tobin. How wonderful it was to see them so excited to share with me the development of Neve Hanna. We started our day by breaking bread with the leaders of Neve Hanna and then we toured the facility. Of course, we started at the synagogue, the spiritual home of these children. We progressed to the homes of the children and went to the bakery. I couldn’t resist a visit to Pinat Chai (the zoo) on the property which teaches the values of compassion and helps the children learn to nurture another life. After leaving the zoo, I stood in the playground. I knew this playground had such potential but it desperately needed repair and revision. I know that Janet and Irwin have been working so hard on the campaign to upgrade the playground. What a worthy cause…Kol haKavod to Janet and Irwin for taking on this incredible drive to expand and repair the playground.
I cherished my visit to Neve Hanna…seeing the murals and structures that were home to these children. Yet, I saw so much more. I saw strength and levity in the eyes of the children. I saw hearts that were full of love for their fellow “family members”. The staff that nurtures these children was inspiring.
As I look forward to the High Holidays, 5784, I myself have renewed and refreshed my sense of dedication to Neve Hanna. In the Talmud it states: “The world is sustained by the breath of children”. Certainly the breath of the children at Neve Hanna sustain me and my family…but more importantly, may their breath sustain the world.
Shana Tova u’mitookah…May this year be a good one for all of us and may we in turn sweeten the lives of the children at Neve Hanna.
American Friends of Neve Hanna 