Over 50 boys rescued from Arab villages with their Jewish mothers from places like Halhul, Umm al-Fahm, Nazareth, Rahat, Tulkarm, Qalandiya and Chevron, had the time of their lives this summer at a special camp for children of their age and background.

Over 50 children rescued from Arab villages had the time of their lives this summer at a camp organized and run by Yad L’Achim.

The children, rescued in recent years with their Jewish mothers from places like Halhul, Umm al-Fahm, Nazareth, Rahat, Tulkarm, Qalandiya and Chevron, experienced a few days of summer fun with children of their age and background.

Yad L’Achim’s Rabbi Yoav Robinson explains that the goal of the camp was to strengthen the children’s Jewish identity, to give them a positive experience and to make them realize that they are not alone in their situation.

“The children called their mothers and told them how happy they were to discover that there were other children whose fathers were Arab and were starting their lives anew,” Rabbi Robinson shared. “For the first time, they could talk freely about their past, and didn’t have to feel ashamed if they blurted out a word in Arabic or spoke with an accent that gave away their past.”

The camp also gave the children’s mothers, who have been raising them alone, some much-needed time off.

The camp was housed in two spacious villas in the north, which were fully stocked with everything the children could want or need.  Every day was filled with joyous experiences, spiritually and physically.

The children enjoyed a telepathy performance, a Tornado speedboat ride, competitions and games. At the same time, they went to daven at the tziyun of Rabi Meir Baal Haness, attended fascinating shiurim and heard talks from counselors on the basics of Judaism.

They also enjoyed scrumptious meals, snacks and treats that made their stay memorable.

A particularly chilling moment came when one of the children heard from his counselor that saying “Shema Yisrael” drives away fears at night. In his innocence, the child asked “Does ‘Shema Yisrael’ also drive away fears during the day?” On being answered in the affirmative, the child said: “Great, I’ll tell my mother, and she can stop being afraid of my father.”

An enhanced team from Yad L’Achim – led by Rabbi Robinson, Rabbi Chaim Kahn and Rabbi Nachman Shoen – ran the camp under the direction of the organization’s counter-assimilation department which has garnered a wealth of experience in working with survivors and their children.

The camp concluded with the distribution of valuable prizes awarded to youngsters who showed dedication in their Torah study, Tefillah and good deeds.

The heart-warming responses that poured into Yad L’Achim from the mothers illustrated the benefits of the camp. “I welcomed home a new child, happier, more upright, like a flower that has opened,” said one.

Yad L’Achim stresses that the camp is not a one-time thing, but part of a series of events aimed at strengthening the bond between the organization and the survivors. The ultimate goal is ensuring, with G-d’s help, the continued spiritual growth of these children and their mothers.

VIDEO