Over a hundred-and-fifty youngsters and teenagers, all
victims in different ways of Arab terror, took part in a
unique two-week camp in the holiday village of Yamin Ord at
the foot of Mount Carmel, organized by the welfare
organization, Lev Malka.
Many of the children were injured in terror attacks. Others
had lost family members to terror. But what was common to all
the children was that they had been seriously traumatized,
and stood to suffer for the rest of their lives. The object
of the camp was to create an environment which would enable
the kids to get the permanent effect of the trauma out of
their systems, and so be able to live stably and
confidently.
Three coaches brought the children from towns and yishuvim
all over the country to the camp's send- off point in the
King David Hotel, Jerusalem where a lavish reception was laid
on. Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu and other celebrities were present
and met the kids. Then off to the camp.
Here the children found themselves in an idyllic environment.
They were encouraged to relax, talk freely to the guides and
share experiences with each other.
Confectionary manufacturers Elite and Strauss sent along
large amounts of their products and the organizers had
combined with a variety of youth attractions in the area to
provide a packed program -- all "on the house."
One tour was of the Carmel Mizrachi vineyards in Zichron
Yaakov. The children saw the wine-making process from start
to finish and were each given a bottle of best wine "in honor
of Shabbos kodesh."
The high spot of the camp was a visit to the Admor of Seret-
Viznitz in Haifa. The Rebbe talked to each child
individually, and gave him a personally inscribed leather
bound copy of Tehillim.
Especially moving was when David Hershkovitz was brought
before the Rebbe. David's father was killed in a shooting
incident. Three months later, he also lost an older brother
who left behind a wife and children. In tears, David told the
Rebbe about the tragedies; how he missed his father and
dreamed about him; how he felt responsible for his own family
and his late brother's; and all he was going through. Even
so, the Rebbe's wise words managed to bring the smile to
David's face and, once again, he looked a young man.
One night, the group went on a picnic. The guides led the
children in song. The children seized the initiative to pour
their hearts out in a long chain of well-known melodies. Then
each child was told to tell his story. Eran, for example,
told how he was on the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall in
Jerusalem when a suicide bomber blew himself up. At first
Eran was taken for dead, even laid among the corpses and a
death certificate was made out which he showed us. Then an
MDA medic tried resuscitation. After breathing into his mouth
for twenty-five minutes, Eran came back to life.
At the end of the camp, the children were sent off laden with
presents. But the real present was the change in their well-
being.
This was not the first of the camps of this kind, but another
of many. Already Lev Malka has gained a name as a foremost
welfare group in support of child victims of terror. At the
beginning of this summer, the communities of Monsey and
Mexico rallied in support of Lev Malka's objectives, holding
dinners addressed by major rabbonim and celebrities, many of
whom spoke from their direct knowledge of Lev Malka.
The Halab community has also taken the cause to heart. The
Yamin Ord camp described above, for example, was largely
funded thanks to the generosity of the distinguished
philanthropist, Mr. Albert Chehebar.
Currently in search of funding for more camps, Lev Malka is
holding their "Damim tmurat damim" ("Money For Blood")
fundraising campaign. Donors may send contributions to POB
473, Tallman, NY 10982.
