A View from Inside Israel
Like all of Israel, for Federation’s partner city Yerucham, the violence is bringing life to a standstill. Residents are staying close to home, painfully aware of what is happening and fearful about the days ahead.
Miami-Yerucham Partnership Director Hila Yogev-Keren has been working out of her Beersheva home, managing her emotions and caring for her mother, two sons ages 10 and 7, three cousins and a dog. Her husband was called to military service a few days ago.
“We can’t help but be scared,” she reports. “The sirens are constantly going off and we leave everything we are doing and all quickly move into our safe room.” Yogev-Keren brought extra mattresses into her son’s room to house her extended family during the rocket attacks.
“Even as an adult, I shrink when I hear the blares and booms.” The violence, she explains, feels more intense and different than previous crises. “There are so many more missiles and everywhere is a target.” Yogev-Keren tries to reassure her children with patience and a little bit of humor. But it is not easy. “My little one follows me everywhere. We just don’t feel safe right now.”
The unease extends to everyone in the community. Avia Kadush Dayan, a young adult alumna and current mentor of the Diller Teen Fellows, a program that brings together students from Miami and Yerucham for learning, service and activism, was looking forward to her big wedding to be held in Beersheva, a city 25 miles from of the Gaza Strip. After more than a year of isolation due to COVID-19, she was excited to celebrate. The escalating violence and unstable situation changed the plans and within 24 hours, Avia was married in a small ceremony under a chuppa in Yerucham.
The Miami-Yerucham Partnership was established in 2007 by Federation to build relationships and strengthen both communities. Yogev-Keren helps direct programs that promote mutually supportive initiatives, connecting resources and expertise to achieve sustained spiritual, social, cultural and economic growth for the two cities. Over the years, many warm friendships have developed between residents of all ages in both communities.
