By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – For years, the Adopt-A-Family Foundation has been helping Israeli victims of terror, mainly in the southern part of that country. According to the Foundation’s executive director, Carine Chitayat, the Foundation had been providing economic support and friendship to approximately 21 families, which expanded to 25 families following the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas of approximately 1,400 persons.
None of the adopted families suffered casualties in the massacre, according to Chitayat, but all of them were invited by the Israeli government to relocate to safer places in Israel while the Israel Defense Force prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza, which it has been aerial bombing ever since Oct. 7.
Most of the residents agreed to move from their homes pending the outcome of the war, although some decided to remain where they were, Chitayat said. The Foundation sent to each of the 25 families a gift of $1,000 to help in resettlement or rebuilding.
The Foundation also contributed to a Resilience Center in Sha’ar Hanegev, the Israeli partnership region for the Jewish Federation of San Diego. Sha’ar Hanegev is a municipality including 10 kibbutzim and a moshav, all very close to the Gaza border. One kibbutz in Sha’ar Hanegev, Kibbutz Aza, suffered heavy losses on Oct. 7. So did kibbutzim in nearby municipalities including Kibbutz Be’eri and Kibbutz Nir Oz.
The Resilience Center aids residents in southern Israel to recover from the shocks of warfare. Numerous rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been aimed at southern Israel, with some causing damage. Adopted families have suffered members of their family being killed by explosions and others being traumatized. At the Resilience Center, there are treatments for both the physical and psychological impacts on the civilian population of exploding rockets.
The after-effects of the trauma caused by the Oct. 7 massacre will adversely affect Israelis for many years to come. Chitayat said in the future she hopes that Adopt-A-Family can expand the number of families it directly helps, but in the meantime helping the current group of families – who aggregate to approximately 100 people – is her organization’s first aim.
In addition to financial help, the adopters take a personal interest in the welfare of the adopted families, remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. They also sponsor visits between Israel and San Diego County. Chitayat said for both the adopters and the adoptees, the program creates strong emotional bonds. More information is available on the foundation’s website.
*
Donald H. Harrison is editor emeritus of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com