On the Ground In Israel
One woman takes the story of an Israeli pioneer “on the road” and brings respite therapy to young and old in the process!
Since October 7, alone and on her own initiative, Daniela Adar has kept the Dubrovin Farm Heritage site in Israel’s Hula Valley alive; going on the road to spread the pioneering story of the Farm’s founder, a Russian convert to Judaism who established one of the first farms in Ottoman Palestine with his family in 1903. The Farm is one of the more than 180 heritage sites which Jewish National Fund-USA affiliate, The Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS), oversees and supports. Adapting to current realities, Daniela, has single-handedly kept the Dubrovin Farm Heritage site going without help from volunteers or workers who left for war-related reasons.
Despite the ongoing challenges since October 7, JNF-USA continues to provide support for the Dubrovin Farm and other heritage sites. Now, more than ever, they are working to restore, (and in some cases rebuild) and preserve historic sites that are symbolic of the roots and development of the Jewish state, with the purpose of elevating the importance of Israel’s history to residents and tourists alike. Says Tanya Michaelian, Director of Social Media for SPIHS, “Without JNF-USA, we could not have done what we’re doing to continue our activities.”
Daniela’s passion for the Dubrovin Farm is sustained by her belief in the importance of reconnecting people to the pioneer story of Yoav (Andrey) Dubrovin who settled the farm. When the October 7 war began, she was faced with a difficult choice: close the Farm until the situation improved, or bring the story of the Farm to the people who needed to hear a story of triumph and grit. She chose to take the show on the road to offer what is now described as “respite therapy.” Thanks to Daniela’s own grit, and with JNF-USA’s support through The Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites, evacuees, children, special needs populations, seniors, and soldiers are now enjoying the benefits of this respite therapy.
Providing hands-on projects and back-to-nature activities that have been shown to promote healing, Daniela leads her workshops with a cheerful smile and a relaxed demeanor. There are arts and crafts and old-fashioned games. Daniela has even learned 18 new crafts (that were practiced long ago) and teaches them to groups, young and old. Some participants learn basket weaving. Others have helped build an outdoor clay oven to make pizza. Opportunities for grandparents to cook with their grandchildren continue to be popular. All these activities encourage creativity and group cooperation. They also help build the resilience and coping skills needed by people who were traumatized by their October 7 related experiences and are now working to rebuild their lives.
The experiences of mom, Michal Shoshan, and her son Ariel demonstrate the healing effects of Daniela’s programs. Michal and her 4.5-year-old son, Ariel, were evacuated from Kiryat Shmona to a hotel in the Hula Valley and stayed there for about seven months. Like other evacuees, they were cut off from all their familiar routines and the comforts of home and school. Says mom Michal, “… Daniela would come to the hotel to do activities with the children as part of the emergency programs run by the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites… all the children wanted to join (Daniela’s sessions), including their parents (to have) an hour and a half of peace, and disconnect from the background noise of the war…”
“Daniela always arrived with a smile and (contagious) crazy energy. The children …eagerly awaited her next visit. My child would wait outside the hotel to see when her car would arrive. My son Ariel, who has sensory processing disorder, is always acting out and refusing to participate in any activity because of his issues… During the first session with Daniela, not even ten minutes passed, and my son was playing with all the children. (During) those hour and a half sessions … I could go, breathe, relax.”
When possible, Daniela hosts groups back at the Farm. Commanders from the IDF consider a visit to the Farm to be a welcome break for their soldiers. Children who visit love the chance to dress up as pioneers. Children can also tour the Farm to learn that (back in the day), water came from a well, bread was baked in a (clay) brick oven and herbs came from the garden!
As Daniela continues to share the story of the Russian immigrant who first settled on what is now Dubrovin Farm, she reminds her audiences that this story is their story too. The early struggles of Yoav Dubrovin and his family (many of whom died during the severe malaria outbreak that plagued the area at the time) mirrors much of what Israelis are experiencing today. Their resilience and courage will make them part of the history and future of the State of Israel.
Help Daniela continue her mission. Support JNF-USA affiliate, The Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS).
Written by Penny Bustin, Phd, member of WFI newsletter committee
Written by Roni Wolk, Chair WFI newsletter, member of National WFI Executive Board, Circle of Sapphire