On the morning of March 28, schoolchildren from the small community of Na’ama located just north of ancient Jericho in the Jordan Valley, boarded their school bus ready to start another typical school day. They had no idea that they would soon encounter a most terrifying and harrowing experience.
As the school bus passed the nearby Arab town of Al-Auja, a terrorist fired at it and at several passing vehicles. Multiple bullets struck the bus, though thank God, no one was killed.
Traumatized and in shock, the children were ushered off the bus as soon as it arrived at its next stop in the nearby community of Naaran. The IDF closed a number of roads in pursuit of the terrorist, and the children could not proceed to school. However, they needed temporary supervision with compassion, support, and encouragement. At this difficult time, they were greeted warmly and with uplifting spirit by older children from Naaran, all of whom were members of the local youth center. With the assistance of several professional staff, the teenagers from Naaran comforted the young children, serving them breakfast and then actively engaging with them in a variety of games and fun activities.
“I heard from several parents in the nearby town of Na’ama who could not get over how generous and helpful our children were for their children” said Michal Friedler, Chief Administrator of Naaran. “One of their parents told me that our children ‘prevented a secondary disaster,’ and another said our youth were a source of great light.”
That morning, the older children from Naaran epitomized the values and skills they had learned at their local youth center, lovingly named “Keshet.” Translated into English as “rainbow,” a Biblical symbol of hope and positivity, “Keshet” is a befitting name for the center. Founded by Naaran with the goal of ingraining its next generation with the tools to be productive members of society, Keshet provides Naaran’s children with an alternative outlet from the virtual world where, through fun and productive activities, they learn to establish strong personal bonds and connections. They also acquire and harness vital skills in developing personal responsibility, helping to provide these young adolescents with a framework and solid foundation for a very bright future.
Keshet’s main building was a simple but rundown structure just a couple of years ago that required significant renovations to function as a viable youth center. Additional resources were needed, but Naaran’s options were limited. Even securing support from the government proved to be difficult due to bureaucratic and political hurdles.
Recalling that you and other donors of CFOIC Heartland have helped them in the past, Naaran reached out to CFOIC Heartland for help, and you responded! Thanks to you, Naaran renovated and refashioned the entire building, transforming it into a most comforting “second home” for the Naaran’s teenagers that includes a kitchen, group rooms, and lounges.
At Keshet, Naaran’s teenagers have learned to comfort and strengthen others in need just as they internalized to do so for each other. When the siren sounded on the night of October 1, 2024 as Iran lobbed some 200 missiles towards Israel, Michal’s son was momentarily pulled in two directions. He was at a point where he was equidistant between his family’s bomb shelter at home and the bomb shelter adjacent to the youth center. He made a quick decision and ran towards the bomb shelter next to his “second home.”
“He could have run home, but the bonds he formed with his peers were so strong that instinctively, he felt compelled to run to the youth center,” Michal commented. “For him and everyone else at the center, that evening was actually a joint experience in personal growth rather than a traumatic one.”
Michal conveyed a deep, heartfelt appreciation to CFOIC Heartland for providing their children with a truly nurturing “second home.”
“CFOIC Heartland has undoubtedly played a crucial role in helping to create a solid foundation in the lives of our teenagers,” Michal said. “We will never forget it! And we at Naaran are always ready and willing to see and host our dear friends at CFOIC Heartland from around the world!”