by Stephen & Rena Wertheim
Last May, we spent two and a half weeks volunteering in Israel ending with a visit to Neve Hanna – the highlight of our trip. We gratefully thank Antje Naujoks, PR Director at NH for organizing our visit.
After the October 7th attack, Shaarey Tikvah, Park, and B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue Men’s Clubs came together in Cleveland to raise funds for Neve Hanna just 15 miles from the Gaza border. Some of these children come from communities like Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Sderot that were under rocket fire even before October 7.
What we saw at Neve Hanna was a caring staff serving Jewish children whose families originated from Ethiopia, Russia, North Africa, and the Middle East. The children were happy and healthy. Neve Hanna has its own zoo and bakery, and a new lovely, modern playground. We ate lunch with one of the children’s group families. A high point for us was meeting Rabba Liron Levy, who as a teen met American Jews on the March of the Living in Poland. When we met her, she was teaching a B’nai Mitzvah class. The class was a cross-section of Israel’s ethnic Jewry. Rabba Liron explained that as a female she had to convince others that she was indeed a Rabbi and that it was okay for their daughters to have a Bat Mitzvah. Watching these children daven together was awe-inspiring, and we were saddened that we would miss their B’nai Mitzvot ceremony. A ceremony that most of the doubting families were now attending.
The work that the staff at Neve Hanna does is difficult, but the children we met were well taken care of in a beautiful and healthy environment. One feels that they are loved and cared for by true professionals.
“Our Visit to Neve Hanna” can be found in the AFNH Rosh Hashanah 2024 newsletter.