By: Yudit Setz

Just a few weeks ago it seems, the streets of Haifa were empty as we all huddled in our bomb shelters awaiting an end to what turned out to be a short but intense 12-day war with Iran. Several massive ballistic missiles landed in the cityand port area, causing extensive damage and much fear. But now we are trying to return to normal life at our special Home for Holocaust survivors. 
 
Our trip to Hanita and Nahariya 
After the tense war, it felt like the right moment to lift our eyes and explore new horizons. A small group of residents in their nineties set off on a journey north to Kibbutz Hanita, right on the Lebanese border. 

It was liberating to make the journey without fear of rockets. The town had been evacuated for months due to the Hizbullah threat. Today, around 80% of the residents have returned, though many businesses remain shut. Still, there was a sense of life and hope in the air. 

Walking through Hanita is like stepping into living museum. The kibbutz was founded during the British Mandate in 1938 as a tower-and-stockade settlement to quickly establish Jewish villages in strategic locations. Hanita, isolated and without roads, was one of the most ambitious of them all. Everything from materials and supplies to people had to be carried in by hand, under armed protection. 
 
Revisiting the history of this remarkable country always serves as a testament to Jewish resilience and their deep desire to return and rebuild the Land of Israel. For many of our residents, it rekindles memories of their own journey and arrival in the Land. From Hanita, we made our way to Nahariya for a lovely lunch by the sea. Sunlight danced on the waves as we took in the view. 
 
“It’s so nice to leave our home and change the atmosphere and the view,” said Zelda, who just celebrated her 97^th birthday. 
 
By mid-afternoon, we were home again. As we arrived, the next group of Russian-speaking residents was already stepping into the van for their own short adventure, this time to explore Haifa. Their trip ended sweetly, with ice cream and coffee at a sunny café in Stella Maris. 

Staying fit and active 
Our fitness room, next to the physiotherapy room, is attracting more and more residents. Sarah, who uses a wheelchair, tried it for the first time since the war. It is very important for her to stay active and regain her ability to walk. Coming to the fitness room encourages Sarah to leave her apartment, get dressed, put on makeup, and connect with other residents. Beyond the physical benefits, it gives her so much more. 
 
Even during these very hot summer months, some of our residents enjoy attending the “Paraffin” activity. Each person receives a warm paraffin treatment for their hands, which lasts about 20 minutes. During this time, they talk about all kinds of topics and even those who do not speak Hebrew well try to communicate with each other. All these activities strengthen the sense of family and community each resident needs. 
 
Story of Arieh Mintz 
Our new resident Arieh Mintz was born in Riga, Latvia in 1941, five days before Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. His earliest days were spent in the shadows of conflict. His father was drafted into the Red Army, while his mother fled eastward to the freezing Siberian wilderness, holding tight to Arieh, who was wrapped in layers of blankets. There they remained in exile and barely surviving until the war finally ended. 
 
When Arieh’s father returned from the front lines, he came with severe emotional scars. The family was granted housing back in Riga, and for a brief time life appeared to settle. A younger brother was born. But the Jewish family’s hardship was far from over. 
 
In 1946, when Arieh was just five, his world was shattered once again. His father was wrongly accused of being a German spy and sentenced to ten years in prison. When his mother fought to prove his innocence, she too was arrested and sentenced to six years. The two young boys were left in the care of their grandparents. This led to years of hunger, hardship and isolation. When the parents were finally released, they were broken people, emotionally and physically, and never fully recovered. 
 
Despite the harshness of his early life, Arieh showed great determination. He began to study law, hoping to carve out a better future. But being Jewish and openly expressing his desire to immigrate to Israel cost him dearly. His studies were cut short, and his ambitions were denied. 
 
Then in 1971, a narrow two-week window opened. Arieh seized the opportunity. With barely more than the clothes on his back, he made Aliyah to Israel. It was the beginning of yet another chapter, one filled with fear and courage. Life in Israel was far from easy. Arieh took on a string of manual labour jobs just to make ends meet. Eventually, he found a new path and joined the Israeli police force. He served in various positions for several years, finally finding a role he could take pride in, until health issues forced him into early retirement. 
 
Like many Jews who came from the former Soviet Union, Arieh had endured relentless antisemitism, both during and after the Holocaust. These experiences marked them with a deep desire to return to the Land of their forefathers. For Arieh, like many others, moving to Israel was not just about safety, it was about finally being able to live openly as a Jew. No more hiding. No more shame. Just a deep sense of belonging, and the freedom of identity. We are proud to have him at the Haifa Home. 
 

“Why Do They Hate Us?” 
Reflections on the War and Antisemitism 
After the frightening 12-day war with Iran ended, the sense of relief among our residents was only partial and short-lived. Though the sirens stopped, and the bomb shelters are empty, the fears still remain. 
 
The relentless news of fallen IDF soldiers, turmoil in Syria, and a disturbing global rise in antisemitism is weighing heavily on many of our residents. Even for those trying to avoid the headlines, the tensions are impossible to ignore. 
 
“During the day we have our activities,” said Naomi. “We’re together and we keep busy with other things. But when I come home, I feel this tightness in my chest. I never thought I’d live to see a time where another Holocaust could seem possible. But it’s beginning to feel like that.” 
 
“My heart is broken with what is happening here in Israel,” agreed Haya. “So much death, so much hatred. And our brave soldiers are giving their lives to protect us. I carry it with me from the moment I wake up. It never leaves.” 
 
When we talked about the growing antisemitism abroad, Haya added, “How can this be happening again? Reading the Psalms helps me. It gives me strength. We have to stay strong. May God help us.” 
 
“This war is always on my mind,” noted Franny, who has several grandchildren in the IDF reserves. “My grandchildren call me from Gaza and say, ‘Saftoesh, don’t worry. We’re okay. Everything will be fine.’ But the worry…it never really goes away.” 
 
When asked about antisemitism, she did not hesitate to add: “It looks even worse than in our time. It’s scary. Why do they hate us so much? I’ll never understand it.” 
 
Mania, one of our long-term residents, is an artist and writer who loves to capture moments from daily life in poetry and paintings. During the recent war, she wrote several powerful poems about hatred as a cry from the heart of a generation that has seen too much. Here is one of them: 

Hatred 
by Mania 
 
Hatred is like a malignant disease, 
One that consumes a person viciously. 
No remedy can truly help, 
It shortens one’s life dramatically. 
 
Hatred flows in the veins of the different, 
As time passes, it grows more obscure. 
When asked why it exists at all – 
There’s no logical answer, that’s for sure… 

As the world continues to feel more unstable and antisemitism grows stronger, our residents’ words serve as a reminder: This is not just a political crisis, but a deeply personal one for those who have already lived through the darkest chapters of Jewish history. 

Please support our work to care for Holocaust survivors at the Haifa Home. Give today at:  help.icej.org/survivors