To see a video recapping the day, click here.
Today in NCSY Kollel we had Yom Chesed and Israel Identification day. This day was dedicated to going to different places, and doing various acts of chesed while creating a connection with Israel. My group started the day with the unique experience of going to both the Gush Katif Museum and Yad Eliezer where we packed food.
As we started going to the Museum, I started thinking about the “disengagement.” I had been young at the time and was not really aware of what was going on. This visit changed everything; I became immersed within a world in which 9,000+ Jews were being evicted from their homes. We were shown a short video, documenting the situation at the time, and how the residents bravely resisted until the very end. This visit really created a strong connection for me with the residents of Gush Katif. It also renewed a strong conviction to do as much chesed and to help as many people as possible.
Our second stop was to the Yad Eliezar warehouse, to assist with the packing of food packages for the needy residents of Yerushalayim. We each had a few boxes in front of us, and began putting in simple necessities that we take for granted; olive oil and shampoo among many other items. This experience really put into perspective how much we have to be grateful for.
We ended our trip with a bit of time walking around the streets of Yerushalayim, reflecting on the events of the day.
-Yehuda Femen