By engaging with these kids and speaking in Hebrew with them, I made a mark on their lives.īy the second week in, I came to love these kids, and I even felt as though I was one of them. Having visited Israel before, I already had a strong connection to the land of Israel, but I ended the summer with a stronger connection to the people of Israel. I figured that I’d have a fun summer volunteering with children, but I was not aware of how much I would change as a person, particularly in regards to my feelings about Israel. When I signed up to participate in Kol Hanearim, I did not really understand what I was getting myself into. In this way, Kol Hanearim hopes to break the cycle of distress, so that when these children grow up and leave the group home at age 18, they will be able to move past their hardships and live beautiful, successful lives. The founders of the program hope that the volunteers will stay connected to the kids even after the summer is over, so that each child knows that there will be someone there for them during their ups and downs and during their greatest milestones in life. Kol Hanearim’s mission is to not only bring happiness and fun into these children’s lives, but also to surround them with caring, loving people.
While the kids’ specific family situations vary, many of these children have experienced things that no kid should ever have to be exposed to, like hunger, poverty, abuse, or terrorism. The children in these homes have been removed from their families by the Israeli government because it is no longer safe for them to live at home. I was placed in a group home in the town of Afula. Kol Hanearim, which means “Voice of the Children,” is a program through which American volunteers run summer camps at several group homes for children throughout Israel. Little did I know that it would turn out to be a life-changing experience. This past summer, I spent four weeks in Israel participating in a program called Kol Hanearim.
In this series, we’re asking Memphians to tell their personal Israel stories. We’re marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel with a year-long celebration! Keep an eye out for “Memphis Celebrates Israel at 70” branding at your synagogue, at events around town, and online.
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