Israeli singer Idan Amedi lighting Chanukah candles before performing at a children’s concert for 400 orphans and victims of terror.
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I received less than an hour of warning: “We’re flying down south by helicopter to visit a Chanukah Camp for about 400 kids. They’re all orphans or such that have lost a brother or sister in the terror attacks or the war. Do you want to come? We’ll be back in a few hours.”
Of course I said, “Yes.” There wasn’t much time to talk. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. “I’m sending you a taxi. It will be there in a few minutes,” said my friend at one of the organizations we help generously.
Why a helicopter? Wasn’t that excessive? When I climbed into the helicopter at the airfield outside Jerusalem, it dawned on me that the transport mode was for the celebrity we were accompanying: Idan Amedi, a beloved pop singer in Israel and a starring actor in the internationally broadcast Netflix drama series Fauda.
He was doing a guest appearance at the camp for these children. Amedi had been seriously injured early in the Hamas war as a reserve soldier. Now, after his recuperation, he was doing concerts for soldiers. He ended his tour with a visit to the camp to sing some of his popular songs.
The kids were waiting at the sports field south of Beersheva as the helicopter landed. They escorted the star boisterously to the auditorium where he would sing.
On stage, a few of the kids were asked to share the stories of their parents, brothers and sisters, victims of terror. After a few opening words, Amedi began by reciting the Chanukah blessings and lighting the menorah, followed by all singing the well-known Chanukah hymn, Maoz Tzur (Hebrew for “Rock of my salvation”). Then he sang some of his most popular hits.
At first sight, it was hard to believe that these hundreds of children were grieving over a lost family member. They were happy. They were sitting and standing, arm in arm, singing along with Amedi. While most crowded close to the stage to catch a glimpse of the star, a few sat quietly, alone on the periphery, not yet quite ready to celebrate.
The 400 children were involuntary members of a unique group for an undesirable reason–they were all traumatized children. Now, during the three-day Chanukah camp, they were experiencing light. For a few hours, they had fun together as a big family, bonding in rappelling, sandboarding and other activities. They also had therapy sessions sharing about their grief.
It was a moving experience for me too, being able to witness their camaraderie, their smiles. My friend and I both cried for their happiness as we flew back with Amedi to Jerusalem. I realized the camp would soon end and these children will go back home and see empty chairs again. Grief is not so quickly undone. For thousands of residents of Israel, it’s been a horrific year.
Numerous children in my son Akiva’s high school have lost their brother or sister to war. Ten recent graduates of the school fell in battle. One of Akiva’s beloved teachers, a rabbi and father of eight children, also fell. Hundreds of schoolmates attended the funerals. Too many. This story repeats from school to school across Israel.
With your help, we have provided aid for surviving families of terror victims who were in financial need. We have sponsored programs for medical therapy. Some, the injured, will require years of treatment.
Our help for others continues also: Soup kitchens and food pantries in Ashkelon, Haifa, Jerusalem and Rishon LeZion; financially stressed expectant mothers; Holocaust survivors; the elderly and infirm; girls at risk; children with disabilities; refugees; underprivileged students and other needy individuals. We will continue to do what we can. Thank you for your generosity.