Tishrei
Life for victims of terror and war and their families in Israel is always challenging and often very difficult. But it is during the holidays that they feel most acutely their sense of loss and grief.
The High Holidays, which are such an emotional season in the Jewish calendar, are an especially painful time for these families, a time when CTVP’s work is urgently needed during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
Among the many services CTVP provides at this time is financial assistance to hundreds of families including widows, orphans and the wounded. This enables them to purchase special holiday foods and new clothing for their families.
Before Rosh Hashanah, CTVP volunteers visit families throughout Israel who have suffered losses from terror and war. They bring handwritten Shanah Tovah cards from children around the world as well as bottles of honey for a sweet year. The solace this brings to these families is extraordinary. They know people all over care about them and wish them the best. The families are also invited to join with the volunteer’s family to celebrate the holiday including sharing meals with them.
Special celebrations are organized during the Sukkot holiday week to bring families together for meals in the Sukkah. This helps them to see that they are not alone, that others care deeply for them, and that they understand what they have gone through and what they have sacrificed. It makes them a part of the Yom Tov celebration to enjoy the special atmosphere of being in a Sukkah.
