In Israel, Kindness Amid Devastation

By Nathan Jeffay December 10, 2010

Amid all the heartbreak and devastation as a result of the fire in Northern Israel, there have been some remarkable stories of human kindness.

Today, many of the members of the moshav Nir Etzion will be starting the Sabbath in their own homes. But this time last week, they were under police instructions to evacuate. That’s tough enough for any family — but what about when everything is in place for a family bar mitzvah?

A Nir Etzion boy was meant to celebrate his bar mitzvah on the moshav last Saturday. On Friday, as the flames got stronger and the possibility of the celebration taking place seemed to be fading, a nearby community, Kibbutz Lavi, made contact and offered to host the affair.

Kibbutz members opened their homes to bar mitzvah guests they had never met before and pitched in to cook a feast, which was served in a specially decorated kibbutz hall. Those who attended said it was one of the most touching simchas they have ever been to.

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