By: Yudit Setz, ICEJ Deputy Aid Director

Residents at the ICEJ’s Home for Holocaust Survivors in Haifa have endured the latest escalation in the long, intense war with Iran and Hizbullah, and are now embracing the summer months, showing their creativity in art, and blessings the community in special ways.
 
Fragile Ceasefire as Summer Arrives
 Despite the constant battle still going on with Hizbullah in nearby Lebanon, it has been quiet in Haifa. The weather has grown warmer, and nature is at its peak – offering the perfect opportunity to take our residents outdoors as much as possible.

Trips to the beautiful beaches of Haifa were a real highlight for many of our residents. After being cooped up in their homes for so long, surrounded only by walls and ceilings, the refreshing sea breeze and the endless view of the ocean brought renewal to their minds, bodies and spirits. Topping it all off with delicious ice cream was truly the cherry on top!

Some gym classes were even held on the beach, with exercises in the sand, running competitions with the caregivers, and lots of laughter and fun. The ICEJ team is constantly looking for creative ways to support and care for our precious Holocaust survivors.

One resident returning from beach gymnastics exclaimed with a huge smile: “This was so much fun!”
 
Getting to Know their Land and Heritage
 Our Ukrainian and Russian-speaking residents continue to greatly enjoy the lectures about the Land of Israel, which are occasionally combined with outings and excursions.

This time, the group visited the Hecht Museum in Haifa. Located on the University of Haifa campus, the museum focuses on the archaeology and art of the Land of Israel and offers fascinating insights into the region’s ancient past.

“It’s wonderful! I love how Israel built Haifa on the mountain ridge, with both buildings and trees, and the university is impressive as well,” Arnold said from the top floor of the university overlooking the city.

Sonia, who is often housebound, was excited to get out and learn something new. “The museum is beautiful – so nice and quiet – and the ancient artefacts really impressed me”, she assured.

On the way back to the Haifa Home, Lena shared: “Even though I felt very tired when I arrived, I now feel refreshed in body and soul. These trips help me love Israel even more.”

Birthdays — Always a Good Reason to Celebrate Life
 Celebrating our residents’ birthdays remains an important part of our work. Many of them do not have family living nearby or anyone to celebrate with in a special way.

When we arrive with songs, balloons, and a personal blessing written on a birthday card, it means so much to them to know they are remembered and loved. We also include a gift card for our beauty salon as part of the birthday celebration.
 
Saying Goodbye
 We recently had one particular goodbye which was both joyful and bittersweet.

Christine, originally from Germany, joined our ICEJ team at the Haifa Home four years ago. During that time, she became an invaluable part of our team. As a nurse, she carefully monitored the health of our residents and gained deep knowledge of Israel’s medical system. She also learned to speak Hebrew fluently and brought many additional skills and gifts to our community.

Christine found love in Israel, married and now the couple are expecting new life. She has now started her maternity leave – the joyful part of the goodbye. At the same time, the residents and staff will sorely miss her. She leaves a significant gap in our Haifa Home family.

Her medical expertise, fluency in Hebrew and Russian, and experience navigating the Israeli healthcare system are not easy to replace, especially for volunteers coming from abroad.

To honour her, we organised a baby shower together with the residents, giving everyone the opportunity to thank her for her wonderful service and wish her well in this new season of life.

At this point, it is still uncertain whether Christine will return after her maternity leave.
 
Shavuot Celebration
 Shavuot – the Biblical Feast of Weeks – was celebrated at the end of May and this year fell close to the dates of Pentecost. The Feast is also known as the “Giving of the Torah”.

Many of our recent activities have centered around this beautiful biblical holiday. A local high school class joined our residents for singing and special Shavuot-themed activities.

Our Ulpan classes and art therapy sessions also focused on the holiday. During art therapy, each participant painted one of the Seven Species of the Land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8) – the seven major agricultural products native to the Land. At the end of the activity, everyone received a beautiful basket featuring artwork painted by one of the residents.

Chag Sameach (“wishing you a joyful feast”) is the greeting commonly shared throughout Israel in the days leading up to Shavuot.
 
Rita’s Love for Coffee
 Rita, one of our beloved residents who became known worldwide through her appearance in the documentary film Miss Holocaust, has always loved visiting coffee shops. For many years, meeting friends for coffee was one of her favourite activities.

As the years have passed, going out has become much more challenging. But our team believes that challenges are simply opportunities to create meaningful moments.

Recently, a new café opened in the middle of a beautiful park not far from the Home. Our physiotherapist Simcha invited Rita and her caregiver for a special outing there. The trip required quite a bit of effort – including some walking and the final stretch in a wheelchair – but it was absolutely worth it.

The joy on Rita’s face was contagious. She thoroughly enjoyed the coffee, the peaceful natural surroundings, and the chance to experience something special again. Since the outing, she has not stopped talking about it. For Rita, this simple visit meant the world.
 
A Market Full of Generosity
 We recently organised another flea market at the Home, turning an ordinary day into a lively and joyful event.

Over time, many items have been donated to our residents by visiting guests from abroad, while other belongings came from residents themselves who wished to pass them on to others. Instead of letting these items sit unused, we decided to create a fun community market where everything was free.

Just outside the dining room, residents and caregivers gathered together with music playing in the background and visitors stopping by to browse. Everyone was invited to choose items they liked or needed, and by the end of the event, almost everything had found a new home.

Beyond the practical side of giving things away, the market created something even more valuable: connection, excitement, and a sense of blessing for everyone involved.
 
Discovering Hidden Artistic Talent
 Many of our residents who now participate in art sessions had never painted or drawn before joining the program. Some were hesitant at first, convinced they lacked any artistic talent. To their surprise, many discovered not only a love for creating art, but genuine talent as well!

In a calm atmosphere filled with soft background music, Nancy, our dedicated art therapist, patiently teaches residents new artistic techniques while encouraging everyone to grow creatively and gain confidence in their abilities.

From time to time, we also invite guest artists to lead special workshops. Recently, talented painter Jonathan Goldberg visited to teach residents the basics of oil painting.

The workshop was a wonderful success. Residents proudly admired their finished paintings and left inspired to continue learning and exploring this new creative passion.
 
Thank You!
 Our team and the residents of the Haifa Home want to thank God for each and every one of you who make it possible for us to share so many precious moments and meaningful activities together.

This work would not be possible without your generous donations and faithful prayers for all of us. Thank you for standing with us and for faithfully blessing the residents of the Haifa Home. Please support our ministry of comfort and care to these precious Holocaust survivors. Give a generous donation today at:  help.icej.org/aliyah