A Time of Joy and a Time of Pain…
Chanukah is a joyous time, most especially in Israel. At Chabad Terror Victims Project (CTVP) we bringthe beauty of this very special holiday to thousands of families in Israel whose lives have been shattered by terror and war.
This year, more than 400,000 delicious sufganiyot, special Chanukah doughnuts, were given out by CTVP in army bases and hospitals all across Israel. 250,000 Chanukiyot kits that included menorahs and gifts and explanations about the holidays were personally distributed by Chabad volunteers to families the length and breadth of the country.
Through Chabad, there were hundreds of cars traveling all over Israel with glowing menorahs on their rooftops bringing the light and cheer of Chanukah to places far and near. Giant menorahs were lit in public display areas so people could gather around and share in the special mitzvah of lighting them.
In the midst of the Chanukah holiday this year there were 43 families in Israel in particular who were in terrible pain, whowere struggling to pull their lives together.
Each of these families had recently lost a loved one in the terrible fires up North and the pain and agony of their losses threatened to overwhelm them. It is to these families, in addition to all those we serve, that Chabad Terror Victims Project (CTVP) is presently providing special aid to help them through this terrible time in their lives.
Our volunteers have gone to spend time with them, bringing love and comfort, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and practical help to get them through the days. Since so many of those killed were the breadwinners in the family, each family has received a special financial aid allotment to cover food, rent, clothing and other essentials.
We want to share some of their stories with you because you have helped CTVP to help them and because we are all family.
In Karnei Shomrom there is a family who lost their father. He was a Rabbi whose great kindness and whose unceasing help for others was known throughout their community. He left behind a loving wife who is pregnant and five little children who cannot grasp the fact that their beloved Aba is gone. The grandfather told us that the money we brought them will literally be used “to buy bread and butter” for the children and that our comfort and support are holding the family together until they can somehow manage to get back on their feet.
In Nahariah a couple, who are new immigrants to Israel, tried for many years to have children without success. Finally they were blessed and the wife is expecting their first child. But her husband will never see their child. He was murdered by terrorists and now she must go on and raise the child alone that she and her husband had longed for for so long. She is devastated and traumatized. We are bringing her financial aid and all the comfort and help we can as she mourns her beloved husband, the love of her life.
In Beer Sheva a young man, the youngest of three brothers, was about to get married. He was such a caring, loving son who visited his elderly parents every day. Now his parents and his fiancée are shattered by his death, broken beyond words. CTVP is with them, bringing them financial assistance and comfort as they struggle to begin life anew without him
In Mamilla there is a family that has lost their father. The wife and three children are struggling, especially the 17-year-son who was so distraught at his father’s death that he locked himself in his room and would not come out. The only person who was able to reach him and bring him out was the Chabad Rabbi who had taught him for his Bar Mitzvah. Now the family is clinging to each other and to the CTVP volunteers who have come to bring them financial aid, comfort, practical assistance and whatever they need at this heartbreaking time.
These are just a few of the families being helped at this time. Their lives have been shattered. CTVP is with them and will remain with them for as long as they need us, whether it is for weeks, months or years. We will never leave their sides until we are absolutely certain they can go on.