Kibbutz Be'eri Relief

Kibbutz Be'eri Relief

Hello family and friends,

There are no words to describe the tragedy in Israel right now. We are all affected, but personally, this one also hits close to home for me. My Uncle, Ariel, lives in Kibbutz Be'eri with his wife and two young children. 5.5 miles from Gaza. Attacked on all fronts, my uncle locked himself in the bomb shelter with his family for over 17 hours as Hamas began to destroy his home as well as his neighbors'. Throwing grenades at their home, they utilized every means at their disposal to completely desolate the Kibbutz. Protecting his family, he held the door shut for 17 hours to ensure no one could break into their bomb shelter as they sat in silence. 17 hours they feared for their lives, believing they wouldn't come out of there alive. Never would I have imagined that my four-year-old cousin would have to be told to stay in silence because "bad people are trying to kill her." After protecting this door with his life, the Israeli soldiers came to rescue them while actively ensuing in combat. My uncle ran holding one child in each arm, leaving everything behind. There are no words that begin to describe the horror my family and everyone in the Kibbutz experienced. While we are lucky they got out alive, many of their neighbors and extended family were not as lucky. But rather than be silent, we want to use this time to strengthen our voices and support our community. In these efforts, my family and I are now raising money for relief for all the families in Kibbutz Be'eri. 100% of the donations will go directly to the finance department of the Kibbutz to rebuild the school and homes that were lost in the community and to buy toys and books for the young children. We would appreciate any of your support in this heartbreaking time.

Much love,

Hila and the Gelfer Family