The City of Netanya, a frequent terrorist target during the three years of the Oslo War, co-sponsored a warm and happy get-together for 400 of its terrorist survivors last week. "An evening like this gives us the hope and strength to carry on," said policeman David Chashai, who was gravely wounded in a car-bomb attack at the Beit Lid junction. The event, held in the Carmel Hotel, was hosted by Netanya Mayor Miriam Fierberg, Chabad's Terror Victims Project (CTVP), and Chabad House Netanya.
Four hundred terror survivors, including many from the Pesach Seder massacre at Netanya's Park Hotel a year and a half ago, came to bask in the loving atmosphere. Over the last three years, Netanya has suffered 14 terror attacks, buried 42 residents, and seen hundreds wounded. Responding to the needs of terror victims is a top priority in the municipality, and Mayor Feirberg appointed Chana Chakak to deal solely with helping terror victims.
"Netanya and Chabad work hand-in-hand to offer comfort and support to terror victims," the mayor said. "We thank Rabbis Menachem Wolpa and Tzvi Wilhelm, directors of the Chabad Houses in Netanya, whose dedicated volunteers, like Netanya's devoted public servants, work to bring smiles to the faces of the families."
Among the survivors were Zohar and Sha'ul Evyatar and their 18-month-old son Maayan, whose stroller was blown to pieces at Cafe London six months ago, yet all three narrowly survived. El'ad Ben-Aruya, 9, and his sister Sheri, 21, were also at the special event; their father, Shimon, was killed in the Seder night massacre, while Sheri was in intensive care for months after the attack and is still not fully recovered.
"Many of you are walking miracles," Rabbi Wolpa told the crowd, which danced and clapped to cheerful Hassidic music between remarks from the speakers. "And so many others of you embody the miracle of carrying on with life despite the sadness and pain of your losses." Throughout the year, CTVP provides financial, material, emotional, psychological and spiritual support to terror victims, their families and the bereaved. Because of their heightened vulnerability over the High Holidays and Sukkot, CTVP initiated a countrywide campaign to visit each of the 1,400 families with whom the members and volunteers of the 230 Chabad Houses across Israel are personally in touch. This includes delivering gift packages as well as giving money, clothes, food and other necessities to these families, who are under tremendous financial and emotional strain. The packages include greetings from youngsters in Austria, France, Guatemala and the United States, as well as from 1,000 Israeli schoolchildren. "Each family we visit is so grateful," said one of the organizers, "not only for the gifts and the cards, but for the strength and the personal attention [we provide]."
Four hundred terror survivors, including many from the Pesach Seder massacre at Netanya's Park Hotel a year and a half ago, came to bask in the loving atmosphere. Over the last three years, Netanya has suffered 14 terror attacks, buried 42 residents, and seen hundreds wounded. Responding to the needs of terror victims is a top priority in the municipality, and Mayor Feirberg appointed Chana Chakak to deal solely with helping terror victims.
"Netanya and Chabad work hand-in-hand to offer comfort and support to terror victims," the mayor said. "We thank Rabbis Menachem Wolpa and Tzvi Wilhelm, directors of the Chabad Houses in Netanya, whose dedicated volunteers, like Netanya's devoted public servants, work to bring smiles to the faces of the families."
Among the survivors were Zohar and Sha'ul Evyatar and their 18-month-old son Maayan, whose stroller was blown to pieces at Cafe London six months ago, yet all three narrowly survived. El'ad Ben-Aruya, 9, and his sister Sheri, 21, were also at the special event; their father, Shimon, was killed in the Seder night massacre, while Sheri was in intensive care for months after the attack and is still not fully recovered.
"Many of you are walking miracles," Rabbi Wolpa told the crowd, which danced and clapped to cheerful Hassidic music between remarks from the speakers. "And so many others of you embody the miracle of carrying on with life despite the sadness and pain of your losses." Throughout the year, CTVP provides financial, material, emotional, psychological and spiritual support to terror victims, their families and the bereaved. Because of their heightened vulnerability over the High Holidays and Sukkot, CTVP initiated a countrywide campaign to visit each of the 1,400 families with whom the members and volunteers of the 230 Chabad Houses across Israel are personally in touch. This includes delivering gift packages as well as giving money, clothes, food and other necessities to these families, who are under tremendous financial and emotional strain. The packages include greetings from youngsters in Austria, France, Guatemala and the United States, as well as from 1,000 Israeli schoolchildren. "Each family we visit is so grateful," said one of the organizers, "not only for the gifts and the cards, but for the strength and the personal attention [we provide]."