By Antje C. Naujoks, PR Director, Neve Hanna Children’s Home
Neve Hanna is going through many changes these days. Some of them are joyful — this summer, quite a few of our children graduated and moved on to the next chapter of their lives — and others mark transitions among our long-time staff, who retired or chose new professional paths after many years of devoted work in our home.
But among these changes, we also faced a deeply painful loss.
Haim Suzanna, who served Neve Hanna with heart and dedication for nearly 25 years, passed away in the autumn of 2025 after a serious illness. Only 50 years old, he left us far too soon.
Haim was more than a respected housefather of one of our family groups. Across Israel, he was known as a singer and radio host, and he brought this gift into our home as well. For decades, he led and nurtured every imaginable singing project at Neve Hanna. His voice, his warmth, and his joyful energy filled our halls. And well beyond music, Haim poured his heart into countless projects, always guided by the desire to do good for others. He embodied the very spirit of Neve Hanna.
Haim’s bond with Neve Hanna was woven not only through his work but through his family. He married Ricky, who grew up in Neve Hanna and later returned as an adult to care for one of our family groups as a housemother. Together, Ricky and Haim worked side by side for decades. They lived on our grounds for many years, present day and night, forming one of the beating hearts of our community. Their three children — Amit, Yuval, and Noam — grew up here as well. Now, just as they are stepping into adulthood, they have had to face the heartbreaking loss of their father.
For generations of Neve Hanna graduates, and for the children who live here today, Haim’s passing is a profound loss, too.
To honor his memory, Neve Hanna has decided to transform part of the grounds into something beautiful — a green, vibrant garden, full of life. Our stage will be moved there, so in the future all our major gatherings and celebrations will take place in this renewed space.
In this way, Haim z”l — may his memory be a blessing — will continue to be with us. His spirit, his music, and his endless kindness will accompany us at every performance and in every moment we come together as a family.
You can make a donation to the Haim Suzanna Memorial Garden in his loving memory.
Written by Antje C. Naujoks, PR Director
Neve Hanna Children’s Home, Kiryat Gat, Israel
American Friends of Neve Hanna 