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January 16, 2004
Retreats offer healing
JNF camps provide relief to child victims of terror.
MEIRA MAIEROVITZ DRAZIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Two cousins, 10 and 11 years old, were riding on the No. 32 bus
from Gilo when a suicide bomber boarded and detonated his device.
The bus exploded, killing 19 people. The children were both severely
injured and barely survived – their aunt and mother died in
front of their eyes.
Aya is a 13-year-old girl whose older brother was killed when his
car was ambushed on his way to visit a friend in Ofra.
These children are examples of the thousands who attended one of
Jewish National Fund's camps for children who have been victims
of terror.
Few of Israel's children are strangers to terror. Bearing this in
mind, JNF spearheaded a number of initiatives to provide extracurricular
programming and camps specifically for children who live in areas
of extreme conflict or have been the victims of terrorism.
In co-operation with the Ministry of Education, JNF's education
department designed eight different educational seminar modules,
with activities ranging from hiking on nature trails, field crafts
and camping, learning about the environment, and various arts and
crafts projects that complement and reinforce each lesson. Seminars
run from one to three days and new activities are developed continually
to keep them innovative and timely.
"It is very important that during this time of insecurity and
low national morale, we support each other and do all we can to
ease the pain of our children," wrote Benjamin Ben-Eliezer,
Minister of Defence to JNF world chairman Yehiel Leket. "Your
work is important and worthwhile and constitutes a genuine example
of love for your fellow man and love of the homeland. Kol HaKavod
– Well done."
In the last two years, 13,000 students between the ages of seven
and 14, from the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem, communities along
Israel's northern border and other conflict areas have experienced
a retreat at one of JNF's four Forest Educational Youth Camp Centres.
JNF also offers week-long summer camps for children who have been
victims of terror. Expanding on the three-day seminar model, activities
include hikes on trails in the region to become familiar with the
geographic landscape; topography, including forest navigation; archeological
activities in ancient agricultural installations surrounding the
camps, such as wine and oil presses; and arts and crafts about ecology
and the environment. The children work on nature projects, learn
about methods of conserving and recycling water, tour caves and
plant trees.
"These kids know tragedy – both their own tragedy and
what surrounds them on a day-to-day basis – but they are still
kids and they desperately need the chance to remember how to be
kids," said JNF Canada national president Sandra Posluns. "As
we kick off JNF's 2003 campaign, it is important to remember that
JNF is not just about trees but about planting the roots of Israel's
future – and that includes making sure its 'saplings' are healthy.
The cost for each child to attend one of these retreats is $500
US and the benefits are priceless. I am so uplifted by our lay leaders,
who work incredibly hard to raise the campaign dollars that make
these retreats possible, not to mention the countless other programs
that directly impact the future of our homeland."
"The programs for the children at the camps work to reinforce
the importance of the Jewish homeland, while instilling a sensitivity
for its ecology," said Jerry Adler, JNF president. "But
above all the goal of these camp programs is to provide a retreat
and comfort zone for the children. We're giving them the opportunity
to relax, have fun and really enjoy themselves with children their
own age who also unfortunately understand misfortune."
The four JNF Forest Education Centres are located throughout Israel.
Children stay overnight in log cabins, each of which holds five
children and one staff person and includes cupboards, an area for
a table and chairs, and a full bathroom. The cabins are each made
possible by a donation of $100,000 and are built in four groups
of twelve around a central outdoor classroom designed for eco-Zionist
activities and lessons that focus on the particular topography of
the region. JNF staff operate the programs.
For more information on sponsoring a child victim of terrorism to
attend a JNF retreat, call 604-257-5155.
Meira Maierovitz Drazin is with the Jewish National Fund.
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