Over the past 2.5 years, it has become clear that we are a nation of heroes. The resilience and bravery shown by our soldiers, our medics, our families and communities has been rightly noted and celebrated. There are stories told around the world about the power and strength of the IDF. But there is a quieter story, a more subtle resilience, that has yet to be acknowledged.
At the Emunah children’s homes we care for hundreds of children who have histories of trauma, abuse and instability. At Emunah, they have found a home, filled with love, care and support that has provided them with routine, structure and stability that they had been sorely lacking. But when war enters the picture, with sirens wailing all day and all night, it throws that careful structure off balance and further compounds feelings of fear and anxiety that these children are trying to leave behind. These children who rely on their routine are suddenly taken out of it – without school or even certain therapeutic activities. Many of the children also spent each night sleeping in the shelters, to limit their need to wake up and run there at the moment the siren sounds. But despite that, their spirits haven’t broken. They have come out of difficult times and continue to work towards their brighter futures. They have held ceremonies honoring fallen soldiers. They have given out care packages to evacuees. One home has even planned a large Bar Mitzvah event for the children who are turning 13 this year!
So much of this though, is due to the incredible staff at the Emunah homes. These are the caregivers who provide love, support and warmth that sees these children through each and every day, giving them the home that they deserve. During the Iran war, these staff members were on call 24/7, ensuring that no child felt alone. The counselors at the homes woke up each day and created a routine – even when there wasn’t one. They ran the morning tfillot, oversaw distance learning, and planned fun activities. They dried tears and set up mattresses in the shelters along with all of the children’s comfort items. They spoke to children about their anxieties and calmed their fears. In many cases, this was a family effort – as we have couples who, together, work to care for Emunah’s children all while caring for their own as well.
It is not easy to be a staff member at a children’s home in these moments. Much of our staff experienced the effects of the war in their own way. They had family members serving, they came from communities that had been hit by rockets and shrapnel. They were trying to hold onto stability for their own families as well as providing it to the Emunah children, all while getting little sleep due to consistent alerts and sirens. But these heroes didn’t let difficulty get in the way of providing care to their charges.
At Emunah, we pride ourselves on caring for a nation. From our children’s homes to our schools and therapy centers, we see supporting Israel’s most vulnerable as both our responsibility and our calling. Alongside the bravery of our soldiers, the resilience of communities under fire, and the sacrifices made by reservists’ families, it is this deep sense of responsibility toward one another – a commitment shared by all of Israel – that we at Emunah see as our greatest strength.
The past years of war have tested every part of Israeli society, including the children and caregivers in our homes. Yet even in the face of fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion, our staff continued to provide warmth, stability, and hope, while our children continued to show extraordinary resilience of their own. In a time defined by conflict, these quiet acts of care and compassion remind us what true strength really looks like.
The writer is the Director of World Emunah
Source:
www.jpost.com
