ICEJ Aid to Israeli Youth Home Brings Hanukkah Joy
Published on: 15.12.2023
By ICEJ Aid Team
The ICEJ has sent our Jerusalem staff in many directions over the course of the current war to distribute relief aid, visit and encourage Israelis, and take part in hands-on projects side-by-side with Israeli volunteers.
On one recent aid trip, a sense of excitement filled the air as our team entered a children’s home and made our way through the packed holiday crowd to find the director. All was in readiness for our ICEJ delegation to celebrate Hanukkah with some 70 Israeli youths ranging from ages 7 to 18 who call the center their home.
Usually, this annual party is an opportunity for parents to visit and celebrate the holiday with their children. Leading up to the day of the party, both tension and excitement were at fever pitch as the children wondered if their parents would join them. This is no small matter, since these children were removed from their family homes due to concerns for their well-being, and they often have been disappointed in the past. But as with many things right now, this year is different.
When we found Maya, the director, she explained that unfortunately this year the parents could not join the party due to the war. As she shared, the sounds of explosions in the background muffled the holiday atmosphere – a sober reminder of Israel’s current reality. Thankfully, the blasts were still far enough away not to be too disruptive of the holiday cheer.
This is the children’s home where the ICEJ has donated kitchen equipment and is sponsoring a wildly popular baking workshop for the youth which provides them with both vocational training and creative therapy, which are especially needed in these difficult days. On this night, the budding bakers can show off their new-found skills by being the preferred caterers for all the sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and other traditional sweets and pastries for the annual Hanukkah celebration.
kitchen and equipment
kitchen equipment
Donuts
delicious cakes
As we entered the party hall, the children and teens were buzzing with anticipation.
Rabbi prepares Menorah
The local rabbi readied the candles of the hanukkiah menorah for the lighting ceremony to kick off the evening.
ICEJ staff member Fine Ditoka, herself a regular bundle of joy, could not resist the infectious cheer of the holiday and spontaneously grabbed a few hands and got the dances going as the music started. Her ICEJ colleague Jannie Tolhoek joined in, marveling at the resilience of these children who carry immense trauma, both from the impact of the war and their difficult family backgrounds. Nevertheless, the smiles were irrepressible.
Showing baked goods
As our team enjoyed the evening, 17-year-old Bogalech*, a bubbly young Ethiopian immigrant, ran over to greet us and, with eyes lit up, proudly presented us with her plate of sufganiyot. She encouraged us to taste, and a conversation began.
“I will be drafted into the army next year,” she shared. “So, I appreciate this time to process and express myself. Thank you so much for coming from Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukkah with us.”
She also wanted us to know what the baking workshop has meant for them.
“Thank you that, through you, we learned how to bake pastries and cakes and to do something so beautiful and creative,” she assured. “Through this baking club, we can learn creative ways to express ourselves. We are so extremely thankful. It gives us something to look forward to, to work together and have fun together.”
Soon, we found ourselves escorted by Bogalech to see the artistic renditions of the hanukkiot – the special nine-branched menorahs that is a centerpiece of the eight-day holiday. The challenge this year was for each student baker to create a Hanukkah menorah that reflects some aspect of the current conflict in Israel. The kids teasing and lobbying the judges who would decide which hanukkiah would be the winner only added to the fun. How to choose between them?
Hanukkiah Nova
Each menorah created by the children was moving for our team to see. One had red poppy flowers to represent fields of red anemones at the annual poppy festival called Darom Adom (“Red South”) held in the south every February. It was meant to remind us that there is always hope in every season. Another recalled the tragedy at the Nova outdoor music festival and wrote, “We will dance again.” Through it they wanted to remind us that despite the sadness, Israel will rise and be joyful again.
Speaking to the director Maya, we learned that the bakery workshop had particularly caused one of the teenagers, Meirav,* to flourish and she has decided that baking will be her life profession. We were delighted to learn that this is no pipe dream. Meirav’s talents were apparent to all, and she was chosen among dozens to receive a scholarship to a specialized bakery program. This precious girl may have come from a broken home and experienced immense trauma from her childhood, but the investment here has meant new skills that are paving a path to healing, new dreams, and a brighter future.
Before we knew it, the party was winding down and it was time to reluctantly say our goodbyes. In the end, the Nova festival hanukkiah stole the judges’ hearts with its message of renewed hope. May we all be inspired by these children to remember that these tough times will pass and hope will be restored for more joyful days ahead. Happy Hanukkah!
Help us to inspire new hope and bring back joy to other Israelis in need during this difficult time. Donations for this particular youth home and similar aid projects can be made through our Future and Hope fund at: give.icej.org/givinghope
ICEJ 為以色列青年回家的援助帶來光明節的歡樂
發佈於：2023年12月15日
ICEJ 援助團隊
在目前的戰爭過程中，ICEJ 向多個方向派遣了我們的耶路撒冷工作人員，分發救援物資、拜訪和鼓勵以色列人，並與以色列志願者並肩參與實踐計畫。
在最近的一次援助之旅中，當我們的團隊進入一所兒童之家，穿過擁擠的節日人群找到主任時，空氣中瀰漫著興奮的感覺。 一切都已準備就緒，我們的 ICEJ 代表團將與約 70 名 7 歲至 18 歲的以色列青年一起慶祝光明節，他們將該中心稱為自己的家。
通常，這個一年一度的聚會是父母探望孩子並與孩子一起慶祝節日的機會。 在聚會當天，孩子們既緊張又興奮，想知道他們的父母是否會參加。 這不是一件小事，因為這些孩子出於對他們健康的擔憂而被從家裡帶走，而他們過去常常感到失望。 但與現在的許多事情一樣，今年有所不同。
當我們找到導演瑪雅時，她解釋說，不幸的是，今年父母因戰爭而無法參加派對。 正如她所分享的那樣，背景中的爆炸聲掩蓋了節日的氣氛——清醒地提醒人們以色列當前的現實。 值得慶幸的是，爆炸距離仍然足夠遠，沒有太乾擾節日的歡樂氣氛。
ICEJ 在這個兒童之家捐贈了廚房設備，並贊助了一個廣受年輕人歡迎的烘焙工作坊，為他們提供職業培訓和創意治療，這在這些困難的日子裡尤其需要。 在這個夜晚，嶄露頭角的麵包師可以展示他們的新技能，成為一年一度的光明節慶祝活動中所有 sufganiyot（果凍甜甜圈）和其他傳統糖果和糕點的首選餐飲承辦商。
廚房和設備
廚房設備
甜甜圈
美味的蛋糕
當我們進入宴會廳時，孩子和青少年都充滿期待。
拉比準備燭台
當地的拉比準備好了光明節大燭台的蠟燭，為當晚的點亮儀式拉開序幕。
ICEJ 工作人員 Fine Ditoka 本身就是一個經常充滿歡樂的人，她無法抗拒節日充滿感染力的歡呼聲，自發性地抓住了幾隻手，隨著音樂開始跳舞。 她的 ICEJ 同事珍妮·托爾霍克 (Jannie Tolhoek) 也加入進來，對這些因戰爭影響和困難家庭背景而承受巨大創傷的孩子們的恢復能力感到驚訝。 儘管如此，笑容還是抑制不住。
展示烘焙食品
當我們的團隊享受這個夜晚時，17 歲的 Bogalech*，一位活潑的年輕埃塞俄比亞移民，跑過來迎接我們，眼睛閃閃發亮，自豪地向我們展示了她的一盤 sufganiyot。 她鼓勵我們品嚐，然後談話就開始了。
「明年我將應徵入伍，」她分享道。 「所以，我很感激這次處理和表達自己的時間。 非常感謝您從耶路撒冷趕來與我們一起慶祝光明節。”
她也想讓我們知道烘焙工作坊對他們意味著什麼。
「謝謝你，透過你，我們學會如何烘焙糕點和蛋糕，以及如何做一些如此美麗和有創意的事情，」她保證道。 「透過這個烘焙俱樂部，我們可以學習創意的方式來表達自己。 我們非常感謝。 它給了我們一些期待，讓我們能夠一起工作，一起享受樂趣。”
很快，我們就在 Bogalech 的陪同下觀看了 hanukkiot 的藝術表演——一種特殊的九枝燭台，是八天假期的核心。 今年的挑戰是每位麵包師學生製作一個光明節燭台，以反映以色列當前衝突的某些方面。 孩子們戲弄和遊說評審來決定哪個光明節將成為獲勝者，這只會增加樂趣。 他們之間如何選擇？
光明節新星
孩子們製作的每個燭台都在讓我們的團隊看到。 每年二月在南部舉行的一年一度的名為“Darom Adom”（“紅色南方”）的罌粟節上，一朵紅色的罌粟花代表著紅海葵田。 它的目的是提醒我們，每個季節都充滿希望。 另一位回憶起諾瓦戶外音樂節上的悲劇，並寫道：“我們會再次跳舞。” 他們想透過它提醒我們，儘管悲傷，以色列仍會崛起並再次歡樂。
在與導演瑪雅交談時，我們了解到，烘焙工作坊特別讓其中一位青少年梅拉夫*蓬勃發展，她決定烘焙將成為她一生的職業。 我們很高興得知這不是白日夢。 梅拉夫的才華是有目共睹的，她從數十人中脫穎而出，獲得了專門烘焙項目的獎學金。 這個珍貴的女孩可能來自破碎的家庭，並經歷了巨大的心理創傷。
童年，但這裡的投資意味著新的技能，這些技能正在為治癒、新的夢想和更光明的未來鋪平道路。
不知不覺中，聚會就結束了，是時候依依不捨地告別了。 最終，新星光明節以其新希望的訊息俘獲了評審的心。 願我們都能受到這些孩子的啟發，記得這些艱難的時刻將會過去，希望在未來的日子裡恢復更快樂的日子。 光明節快樂！
幫助我們在這個困難時期激發新的希望，為其他有需要的以色列人帶回歡樂。 可以透過我們的未來與希望基金為這個特定的青年之家和類似的援助計畫捐款：give.icej.org/givinghope