During this difficult, dark period, the youth of Yemin Orde took it upon themselves to bring rays of light to people and communities around Israel. In a play on words, we called this project Yemin Or, as or means light in Hebrew. The entire village participated in Tikkun Olam projects around the country.
9th graders went to different warehouses in Haifa where they organized food packages to be given out to families in need in the area. 10th graders went to work in greenhouses and banana plantations in a moshav near the village (because there is a shortage of agricultural workers around the country). Their work was organized by Yitzhak, a 2023 graduate who spent much of his time in the village in the Eco-farm. Yitzhak shared his love of the land and his appreciation of all he received from Yemin Orde.
10th grade girls visited Carmel Hospital where they prepared dreidels filled with chocolate coins to children and staff. The girls were full of energy and were warmly received by patients and staff.
The 11th graders went to Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot to work in the fields and then toured the Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum where they discussed the relevance of the museum today. One of the museum guides gave the tour in Russian, and it was moving to watch the faces of the kids who were hearing stories of Jewish heroism during the Holocaust for the first time. The museum was important in strengthening the spirit of our youth while reminding them that they are part of the story of the Jewish people. After the museum, a young soldier came to speak to the kids about preparing for the process of IDF induction. This is a process that they will begin in the coming months and this meeting was an important opening of the process in just the right context. Hadas, an 11th grader, commented, “We have to learn about the past, even if it was horrific….and we are stronger now. This is an important step in my personal preparation for IDF service.”
The 12th graders went to the Golan Heights where they picked raspberries on Moshav Avnei Eitan. The farm owner told our kids that if they hadn’t come the fruit would have rotted in the field. Thanks to them, he will be able to get the fruit to market and have a salary this month.
They then went to meet with Boaz Schwartz, Director of Yemin Orde Youth Village, who is currently serving in the reserves. Boaz organized an inspiring meeting with some of the soldiers he commands. “All of us are willing to pay a price for Israel’s survival. Just like I left the village to protect our country, each of these soldiers left his family, job and community to serve.” Each of the soldiers shared their story. One of the most inspiring was a soldier who came to Israel alone as a teenager and spent high school in a youth village before joining the IDF. We could see all of those youth who are on the same path, alone in Israel, nodding their heads in understanding as he spoke, while imaging themselves protecting Israel in a few years.
Today our youth inspired others, bringing so much light to Israel.