Nachal Oz Refugees

Last night, as part of Grilling For IDF's first major BBQ for refugees, I found myself in a Kibbutz up north, grilling hamburgers and steaks for 400 men, women, toddlers, and grandparents from the southern Kibbutz of Nachal Oz. 

I could tell you about Yuval and Eden, the couple who had finally put the finishing touches on their dream house they had built (but not yet garden), and now have no idea when they will be able (or even willing) to move back to the home, now with bullet holes decorating some of the walls.

I could tell you about watching a 9 year old girl putting ketchup on her hamburger, and thinking about how devastating it is that her father will never be able to help her with ketchup or anything else again.

I could tell you about Gad, who wanted a steak right off the grill I was cooking from, who told me that everyone in the kibbutz basically knows each other, and he knows them all because he worked at the Makolet (small convenience store).

I could tell you about the panic that Dovi and Shirel felt when they went outside after the red siren alerts which are unfortunately "normal" and then saw the pickup trucks driving right outside the kibbutz fence.

I could tell you about Michael, a 3 year old who saved his family by putting down the hard shades outside the glass door the afternoon before so he could watch TV.  

I could tell you about Shira, a young mother with a 4 year old who is so pure she told our volunteers giving out candy that she had already gotten a bag, and a 10 month old who did not give away their position in the sealed room. They had just moved to Nachal Oz 2 months prior.

I could tell you about 2 girls who were kidnapped, who lived with their father until he was murdered on the 7th, and now it is unclear about who they will live with after the hostage deal. The entire Kibbutz is waiting for them. I could tell you about the 5 other hostages the Kibbutz is thinking about, who have a much murkier path of returning.

I could tell you about Shimon, who had Gazan employees work for him (enabling them to make 10X what they would have made in Gaza), side by side, and never had any fear. He says he still doesn't have any fear, but he no longer has trust in them.

I could tell you about the hidden miracles (or coincidences if you prefer) that went on in the Kibbutz, like the fact that soldiers from an elite unit happened to sleep in the Kibbutz the night of October 6th after a late night mission they had to do in the area, and prevented the 300+ terrorists from murdering to the extent that they did in Beeri and Kfar Aza, or the fact that when the terrorists tried to break into Yuval's house, they shot at the lock, jamming it completely.

I could tell you about the love from Israeli citizens and Jews worldwide that the Kibbutz members feel, while simultaneously feeling abandoned by our leadership, who have not given them any plans for living, financial grants, or even visited or spoken to members of the Kibbutz.

But mostly what I want to tell you is that I fell in love with a Kibbutz I have never been to. And each story is more how-can-this-be-real-life than the next. They are strong, warm, and determined people. I cannot wait to see the way their lives are rebuilt once this is over, and hopefully help them do it. I pray that each one of these people can go home soon, and rebuild the life that was destroyed. 

(All names are not real to protect their privacy.)