Seventeen months of war. Seventeen months filled with sirens, funerals, empty chairs, and broken hearts. Yet this week, Israel's streets overflow with joy, vibrant costumes, and exuberant celebrations. Here, Purim isn't optional. Even amidst hardship—especially amidst hardship—the land and people of Israel choose joy.
Purim symbolizes more than survival; it celebrates resilience, strength, and renewal. When the world expected brokenness, the Jewish community responded with music, laughter, and unbreakable spirit. Despite exhaustion and grief, our land and people of Israel - and Jewish people worldwide refuse to be defeated.
Across Israel, Purim celebrations at Jewish National Fund-USA heritage sites illuminate history and community. In Israel's north, families gathered under starry skies, lighting lanterns and hearts alike. In the Jezreel Valley, the Valley Museum offered immersive history experiences, complete with period costumes and tractor rides. At Ben Gurion’s Desert Home, children's laughter - a sound that strikes fear into Israel's enemies - echoed through the desert air, delighting the local community.
Meanwhile, an extraordinary historical discovery enriched Purim this year. Newly uncovered photographs from the Cyprus detention camps of the 1940s reached Atlit Detention Camp's Information Center, capturing Jewish detainees joyfully celebrating Purim despite barbed wires and exile.
These images highlight an enduring truth: joy and resilience transcend circumstances, and preserving such stories fortifies the collective memory of Israel's journey to freedom.
Communities that have been through so much in recent years find solace and cultural pride in their country's modern heritage sites protected and resourced by Jewish National Fund-USA's philanthropic investments.
The dedicated team from the Dubrovin Estate in Israel's far north near the border with Lebanon recently brought lessons of pioneering, Zionism, and agriculture directly to kindergarteners from Kibbutz Manara, now residing temporarily at Kibbutz Gadot. Their activities, captured in a moving video, affirm the unwavering commitment to preserving Israel's heritage and supporting its youngest generation during difficult times.
Empowerment initiatives also continue to flourish. This Women's Month, Jewish National Fund-USA-supported programs focuses on preserving Israel's modern history hosted a special watercolor workshop at Yellin House, located just outside of Jerusalem. Led by Barbara Israel Bortniker, a stalwart of Jewish National Fund-USA, the event provided solidarity and support for war widows, partners of reservists, and women profoundly impacted by the conflict. Such gatherings highlight the strength, creativity, and enduring spirit of Israeli women - along with Jewish women worldwide.
In Israel, Purim serves as a powerful reminder: joy, identity, and resilience will always prevail. Even amidst adversity, Israelis affirm clearly and passionately: "We are still here."
Am Yisrael Chai! The People of Israel Live!
To support the preservation of heritage sites in Israel, donate today at jnf.org/donate
