The Strength to Heal

Facing the destruction wrought upon their community on October 7, these teens created a year-of-service program to rebuild their home in the Israel Envelope.

Before the sun rises, it’s time for 18-year-old Eliya Cohen from Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak in southern Israel to wake. She moves with more energy than you’d expect for a teen at this hour as she pulls on her gear and heads out to a local farm and gets to work in the fields. “The land needs healing, just like we do,” she says. After a morning of hard work, she goes to the nearby school, where she mentors younger students still grappling with the trauma of last year’s events.

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” she adds. “This is home.”

Eliya and 23 of her peers, all from the hardest-hit communities of southern Israel, survived the attack on October 7 and have chosen to spend the year after graduating high school volunteering here. They turned to Jewish National Fund-USA with their idea, who funded it and brought it to life.

Building Community Resilience

Last year, in the immediate aftermath of October 7, with many of their families evacuated, a determined group of 12th-graders made a decision: they chose not to be victims of circumstance. They stayed close to home and lived together, studying in a makeshift school until graduation.

After graduation, faced with the question of what to do next, they opted for a pre-army service program known as Shnat Sherut, a year of service. While such programs usually send participants far from home, these teens partnered with the regional council and Jewish National Fund-USA to create a brand-new year-long service program in their own community, right there in the Israel Envelope.

They now live as a tight-knit communal group, sharing meals they prepare themselves, and supporting one another. Each day, they head out to make a difference: working in agriculture, maintaining community facilities, assisting seniors, and helping in schools. Afternoons are filled with volunteering in after-school programs and with children who have special needs. They also organize weekly activities for kids in the region and are hosted for Shabbat by local families.

Their circle of impact is felt in the physical and emotional rehabilitation that the community must now endure after experiencing immense loss and destruction since October 7. Smadar Segal, whose son, Tom (z”l) was killed in action in Lebanon, credits the group with helping her find her next steps forward. They helped her renew her garden, and she says that without their loving support, she would not have left her house. Now, she looks forward to helping them connect with more bereaved families to spread their light of hope.

“They work hand-in-hand with the communities in the area in formal and informal educational frameworks throughout the region,” said Omri Elias, manager of the program. “Their work is helping these communities come together and return to live and thrive in the region.

“These kids represent optimism for the residents of the region.”

 Empowerment in Action

Part of what empowers these young leaders is that they have endured the same trauma as the children they mentor and have seen their homes destroyed in the same way as the towns where they volunteer.

In coordination with the Ministry of Defense, the group plays a special role in rehabilitating Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the most heavily damaged kibbutzim which saw scores of members murdered or kidnapped.

A staff member, Gili Meir Kir, explained what it means for them to play this role, “From clearing debris to packing up homes for displaced families, their work has been vital—and deeply sensitive. Because they’re from this region, they bring a unique understanding and care to every task. Their presence is not just practical—it’s personal. Their work is a quiet but powerful act of healing.”

“This is the future generation of Israel’s frontier,” said Yoel Rosby, Jewish National Fund-USA's National Projects Coordinator in Israel. “These kids chose responsibility over resignation.”

“This investment was one of the most emotional, impactful decisions we could make,” Rosby added. “These teens are building a future—not just for themselves but for generations to come.”

 Courage and Commitment

For 18-year-old Ron Peleg Uziyahu from Ein HaBsor, staying in the southern region was an obvious choice. “We decided to do our service davka (despite it all) here because there’s nothing more important than rebuilding our home. Nobody knows our region better than we do.”

Naomi Gafner, another program member, teaches judo to local kids. “I’ve learned more about this region in the past three months than in my entire life here,” she reflected. “It’s so important that we’re here, doing what we’re doing.

They even arranged a Purim party for the children, which meant much more than a day of celebration, it was a chance to reclaim their innocence. One mother shared, almost on the verge of tears, “To see them like this on Purim, just being kids! Thank you. Please know that you have played a big role in my son’s life. He has become more open, with more confidence and self-esteem. We will never forget this.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a more meaningful year,” said Naomi, “I feel like I’m giving back, and the community’s appreciation gives me a sense of purpose and belonging.

 “When I join the army next year, I’m sure I’ll look back in awe at how much I contributed and grew through this experience.”

By choosing to stay, rebuild, and strengthen bonds with their neighbors, these teens have become champions of recovery and role models for the power of every individual to be a catalyst for communal growth. They have already recruited 17 participants for next year and are eager to continue this important work as long as it is needed.

“Jewish National Fund-USA couldn’t stand idly by and not support such a transformative program,” Rosby said. “The impact of their work will resonate far beyond this year.”

“This is empowerment in its purest form.”

To learn more, visit jnf.org/supportisrael