Israeli victims of terror find support in San Diego

By Carine Chitayat and Iris Pearlman

SAN DIEGO–The Adopt A Family Foundation (AAFF) is an organization which matches Israeli terror victim families with an American contact family. This program sets into motion an unprecedented partnership of Jewish souls.  This valuable contact enables the terror victim family to begin to rebuild their traumatized lives with added support and care. 

Spring is typically the time when AAFF arranges a trip for one of their “adopted” families. This year, on March 11, we welcomed Natan Galkowicz, from Sha’ar Hanegev, for a second time. Natan was invited last year to be the Yom Hazikaron Community Memorial Service guest speaker, as well as the guest speaker for the Adopt A Family Program, at Congregation Beth Am. Yet Natan still had a strong desire to come back.

After losing his daughter Dana to a rocket fired from Gaza, Natan needed to express the way he felt. Now he craves to talk about the situation in Israel, and more specifically the situation in his region, Sha’ar Hanegev. Natan takes it to heart that we have given him the opportunity to come here and inform us about the real problem. This is his way of giving back to our community and saying thank you for allowing him to be a part of our program. This is more than his healing process; this his mission.

The topic of his message this year was: “What is truly happening outside of Gaza?”  He reported:

“Our Kibbutz, Bror Hail, is located 10 km from the Gaza strip. Not far away from us, about one mile, there is the city of Sederot that has been, and continues to be bombarded with missiles, at least once a week. Even after operation ‘Cast Lead’ the situation in our region hasn’t changed much. Rockets are still being fired. We cannot go on like this. We need peace.”

Natan is frustrated. The truth is that not much has changed. Both sides are suffering.

Natan was given many opportunities to express himself in San Diego.  He really appreciates his connection with our community and feels at home, here.  His story is a tragedy but Natan is an inspiration for many. His energy, his need to be so pro-active, and his humor, almost make us forget the reason of his trip.

Natan was “adopted” a couple of years ago, and a co-author of this article, Carine Chitayat, has been his main contact for the Adopt A Family Program. It is rare to go one day without exchanging an email.  When Chitayat and Iris Pearlman started the program, “we never expected these kinds of relationships with our adopted families. We were warned to actually expect nothing in return from our adopted families. This person was wrong.  All the families have been incredibly thankful to know that someone out there, even as far as San Diego, has been thinking about them.

“We also feel blessed that more of our community members are getting involved with our program and becoming main contacts with our more recently adopted families.  This is a very rewarding endeavor.  When a person volunteers to become a contact, they begin by making a phone call and getting to know the family.  Over time, a relationship builds which blossoms into a real bond.  In this way, our volunteers touch the lives of victims of terror. Ultimately, the contact is rewarded with a wonderful and inspiring relationship.  The Adopt a Family Foundation provides financial assistance to these families, but the emotional ties that are created are what make the difference.

Natan is right: “In Israel, despite all the differences between people, there is a unique bond that unites everyone. We are Jewish and Israel is our country. It doesn’t matter where you come from; everyone shares the same feeling.”

This has been proven to be true in Israel, but we can feel the same bond between here and there: we are Jewish and have that kind of relationship.

Carine noted that “I was lucky enough to witness this kind of unity when I was traveling in Israel this past November. I had one hour to kill between my visits to our adopted families. Strolling through Old Jaffa, I happened to walk into Studio Shifron, on Kikar Kdumim. I was caught dead in my tracks by its beauty.  Imagine, a Byzantine building overlooking the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. On the white walls of the studio, many paintings awakened my senses. Ayal Shifron’s art uses local substances from the earth, such as spices, flowers and grains to create multileveled pieces. This art brings you back in time, as it examines and recreates the history and passion attached to the land and explores why it has always been such a great magnet for all humankind.

“When I returned to San Diego, still captivated by Ayal’s art, I decided to email him to let him know about the Adopt a Family Program. Wondering if he would be interested in supporting our efforts in helping victims of terror, by donating an art piece. Without hesitation, Ayal offered to donate ‘The Sacred Earth’ for our annual fundraiser!  

“Some would call it ‘chutzpah’, I call it:  ‘Amazing Bond!’

“We are constantly reminded how intricately woven the Jews  are to each other; and it is truly inspiring.”

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Preceding was provided by the Adopt a Family Program.  Chitayat may be contacted at cchitayat@aol.com