Residents return to Kibbutz Nir Am after 10 months' exile

(JNS) - A circle of yellow flags, symbolic of the hostages who remain captive in Gaza, greet you as you enter Kibbutz Nir Am-a painful reminder of that Black Sabbath of Oct. 7. Every so often, the dull boom of combat in the neighboring Strip punctuates the air.

The cacophony of war continues. Nir Am is in the northwestern Negev, close to Sderot. The closest point of the kibbutz is less than a mile from the Gaza border. On Oct. 7, as Hamas-led terrorists invaded the communities of the "Gaza Envelope," Nir Am was one of the few that succeeded in avoiding casualties. Nir Am's security team managed to defend the kibbutz and repel the terrorists. The story is nothing less than extraordinary.

On Aug. 27, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages, kidnapped alive from their homes on neighboring kibbutzim on that dark Saturday and then murdered, apparently as rescuers drew near. There are still 109 Israelis in captivity.

Many of the residents have started to return to Nir Am after they were evacuated to the Herod Hotel in Tel Aviv 10 months ago. It is an emotional time as the war still rages and many still feel the trauma of that day and concerns for their safety. The return to their homes is overwhelming and bittersweet.

The most pressing issue for communities starting to return to their homes is to feel safe.

South African partners

Responding to the needs of these communities, the Jewish Agency for Israel launched the "Communities2Gether" project. This initiative partners 25 Israeli communities with Jewish communities around the world with the goal of ensuring no community is left behind. Nir Am was partnered with the South African Jewish community.

While Nir Am was not breached on Oct. 7 and there is no physical damage to any of the structures, emotional or "people to people" support is needed.

The Communities2Gether project, in partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, the Jewish National Fund South Africa, ORT SA, the South African Zionist Federation and Telfed, the South African olim organization, are committed to ensuring that Nir Am residents have all the support they need.

A locksmith makes repairs at Kibbutz Nir Am, Aug. 20, 2024. Photo by Vanessa Fisher.

A busload of volunteers including two handymen and a locksmith descended on Nir Am last week to help clean and organize the four kindergartens so that they are ready for the return of children on Sept. 1, the beginning of the school year. Volunteers helped pack up the equipment from the makeshift kindergartens at the Herod Hotel.

Telfed Deputy Chairperson Debbie Dash told JNS, "Our volunteers just wanted to contribute and we are going with the flow, understanding that we are dealing with a wounded community. Many are returning with mixed feelings after living in a hotel for 10 months with little privacy. They still do not feel safe. It is important to us that we can give people-to-people support."

Telfed Chairperson Maish Isaacson echoed her sentiments. "Residents left under extreme duress and even though the kibbutz was not destroyed, we want them to return knowing they are well cared for," Isaacson told JNS.

Israel Tzadok, head of education for Nir Am, served as a soldier for three months during the current war, as part of a tank unit. "I wanted to do more than protect, I wanted to help rebuild. Helping to revive the kibbutz is exciting and emotional and I hope the children have a sense of feeling at home. The first of September will be a dream come true," he said.

"I hope the children take as much as they can from all the support they are receiving. It is important to help the parents as well as they deal with their anxiety. We want them to know their children are safe," he added.

Volunteers at Kibbutz Nir Am, Aug. 20, 2024. Photo by Debbie Dash.

Ofir Ohayon is a psychological counselor who is expected to work with the children.

He cautions that this is not a regular school year for the children of the south. They have effectively lost a year that is crucial to their development and maturity. There has been emotional regression because of the immense trauma that they have faced and they need to feel safe and secure as they experience many emotional difficulties.

"Parents need to be extra sensitive to their children. If the children are emotional, the parents tend to be extra sensitive and of course, children pick up what their parents are feeling," Ohayon said. "Their lexicon has changed, they speak about death and many of them lost friends and family, and the parents may not be emotionally strong enough yet."