Holocaust Happening in Front of Our Eyes

Bella explained, “I said it right away, ‘This is the Holocaust. Why do people who endured the Holocaust have to go through the same thing in a country we founded and where we were so happy? How did the Holocaust happen again right in front of our eyes?’” 

Bella Haim, 86, immigrated to Israel from Poland at a young age after she and her family survived the war. She rebuilt her life in southern Israel. But on oct. 7th, while Israel came under a brutal attack, Bella’s grandson, Yotam, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and was later killed when he tried to escape.

“I didn’t believe that a thing like this could happen in Israel,” said Bella. “I didn’t believe after so many years of wars that we stayed through and witnessed the development of one of the most beautiful regions of the country. But all of this, in a matter of hours, it all disappeared.” 

Bella has found solace at the Neve Eshkol Association for the Elderly, an organization supported by CBN Israel. The center lost 9 people on Oct. 7th and was forced to close for months when the area was declared a military zone. Yulia, one of the directors of the center, knew that reopening as soon as possible would help speed the healing process for both members and staff alike.  

Yulia said, “We are all in trauma. And it will take a long time to go through that. Being here, opening this place, connecting with the people, this is our way to deal with trauma.”

Thanks to you, CBN Israel works with the center to ensure that members receive a hot meal every day in addition to the support they need including home visits, various therapies, workshops, tours and lectures. The staff also receives psychological support in order to be able to help people like Bella.

Anat, one staff member at the center said, “We are here to give people their lives back. We help the elderly people in Eshkol build resilience. This place gives them a reason to keep living and a reason to come back.”

Thanks to your help, Neve Eshkol has become a beacon of hope in a war-torn region of Israel. And these traumatized citizens of Israel can begin to find healing.

Anat said, “It’s so appreciated. And thank you very much for doing all this.” 

Bella explained, “I said to myself, ‘What am I going to do now?’ And here I find the answer. I go to activities with Michael. I exercise with Laura. I am keeping my brain active. When I arrive here, I forget everything. I’m active, I’m busy. We will return, all the people who are refugees in our own country will return. And here in Neve Eshkol, we will hear music again and we will dance again. I am Bella Haim. I choose life. And I thank everyone who tells our story, my story, and who helps us get up every morning with a new song. The people of Israel live!”