by Tom Sudow, Board of Directors
In the macro sense, this has been a difficult year for most of us, beginning with the horrific terror attacks on October 7th. Continuing through a difficult war that has had multiple fronts against Israel. And as we have looked around the world, and yes even in our own communities we see the rise of antisemitism we have felt uneasy, uncomfortable and questioning our own security. Now bring this down to the micro level of a child living in the southern part of Israel, who comes from a home where there are family challenges, living in less-than-ideal conditions and now has the situation of October 7th and its aftermath as a very personal experience. The children that come to be nurtured in Neve Hanna come from troubling backgrounds that have only been acerbated by the world around them in the past year. The children aged 6 to 18 serviced by Neve Hanna live in family-like unit groups on the campus. Neve Hanna also offers three programs designed for children who return to their homes in the evening. And even one that is a joint Jewish Bedouin program.
The highly devoted staff plans individual as well as group programs and therapies, with the goal of rehabilitating severely traumatized children, empowering them and promoting their educational and social development while imparting to them the tools to build successful, independent, self-sufficient future lives.
Neve Hanna is a warm, loving home environment for children, which offers support, assistance, guidance and care. Children grow up to become self confident and independent adolescents and young adults. The staff is always there to offer a helping hand and gently guide the children through challenging times.
Neve Hanna is only able to support these children, because of the generosity
that donors provide and the support volunteers provide. “To save a life is as if you have saved the entire world.” Together we are saving lives and have done so through a most difficult and challenging year. We have only been able to do this because of the big-heartedness of each of us. On behalf of the children, Todah Rabah – Thank you!!
As we approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur our thoughts and prayers are for a better year, for us and our families, for Israel and the people of Israel, and for the world. A year of peace and prosperity. Together we are bringing peace to the children of Neve Hanna. Just as the goal for our fast on Yom Kippur should be to focus less on what we place in our bodies (food) and more about how we use our minds, hearts and physical beings for good, so too is our hope the children of Neve Hanna can find peace and security within the nurturing environment we create.
I wish you and your families L’Shanah Tovah and happy, healthy, sweet, and peaceful year ahead.
American Friends of Neve Hanna 