By Marelinke van der Riet

Amid the intense conflict in northern Israel, the ICEJ’s Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors continues to provide vital care and support to its elderly residents—many of whom bear the deep scars of surviving the horrors of previous wars. Recently, a group of ICEJ staff visited the Home to learn how the survivors are coping during these tense times and to see firsthand how our Christian staff is supporting them.

The night before our visit, red alert sirens echoed throughout Haifa, sending thousands of people rushing into bomb shelters. Hizbullah in Lebanon has launched over 16,000 rockets and armed drones into northern Israel over the past year, with many targeting the large port city of Haifa. These barrages have intensified over recent weeks, with almost daily volleys landing in and around Haifa.

For the residents of the Haifa Home, the sirens warning of incoming rockets are a traumatic reminder of their pasts. Recently, rocket shrapnel even fell near one of our buildings, adding to the constant anxiety felt by the survivors.

Renate, originally from Germany, shared how the sound of these red alert sirens triggered painful memories of World War II. “I had to take medication to calm down after the sirens last night,” she shared.

Renate was a young child during the Holocaust, and has written several books of poetry to process her feelings and experiences. She described suffering tension headaches for five weeks following the October 7 attacks by Hamas last year. This is not surprising, as a study by the National Insurance Institute of Israel found that 50% of Holocaust survivors experience PTSD symptoms even in old age. After spending most of her life in America, Renate decided to move to Israel, explaining: “I wanted to live out my life on holy ground.”

In Haifa, many older buildings lack bomb shelters. However, the ICEJ Home took proactive steps earlier this year to ensure its residents’ safety, organizing a large safe room just off the dining hall for easy access during meals and community meetings. The Christian Embassy also constructed another safe room in its newest apartment building to provide additional protection.

This new building houses eight Jews and two of their children, who take care of their parents and mother. They were evacuated two years ago from the war in Ukraine. In total, 16 residents at the Home fled the conflict there. It is estimated that over 20,000 Jews from Ukraine fled to Israel after the Russian invasion in 2022. The ICEJ team is doing everything possible to ease the minds of these survivors, who now find themselves in the midst of yet another war.

One such survivor, Natalya, moved to Israel from Ukraine two years ago, fleeing one war only to find herself in another—this time without any family or friends nearby.

“I could not have done it without you,” she told Yudit, ICEJ’s Deputy Aid Director. “You phone me and ask, ‘Are you alright?’ You are like a big hug.”

This simple yet powerful support has been invaluable to residents like Natalya, who feel isolated and fearful in the face of this crisis.

As we were leaving, Natalya showed us the newly constructed bomb shelter and said, “Thank you for helping us feel safe again. We have known too much fear in our lives, but here, we can rest.”

That moment, more than anything, reminded me of why our work with the survivors is so vital.

The Home currently cares for 50 Holocaust survivors, the eldest of whom is 102 years old. After the Holocaust, Israel became a primary destination for displaced Jews, and by 1951, over 687,000 survivors had arrived to rebuild their lives.

Today, approximately 132,826 Holocaust survivors live in Israel, according to Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. Many of these survivors are now facing the trauma of the ongoing war. Of this number, around 2,500 were directly impacted by the October 7 attacks, and approximately 2,000 have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the fighting.

To help the residents of our Haifa Home cope, the ICEJ team has implemented several therapeutic programs. Nancy, the Home’s art therapist, leads art sessions to help the survivors express their emotions and temporarily escape from the harsh realities surrounding them. The art room also doubles as a makeshift bomb shelter, with mattresses placed in front of the windows for protection in case of air raids—especially for those who cannot move quickly enough to other protected spaces.

The residents also benefit from physical therapy. Sarah, a resident from Romania, had hip surgery and now rarely leaves her apartment, although she fondly recalls her love of travel. Zelda, another resident, is recovering from a broken hip and, with encouragement from Christine, the ICEJ nurse, is slowly regaining her strength. Simcha, the ICEJ physiotherapist, created a “fitness garden” to improve the residents’ mobility. She also brought a “therapy baby” during our visit—a life-like doll that brought smiles to the residents as they held it.

Earlier this year, the ICEJ donated a new ambulance to serve Holocaust survivors in the Haifa region, ensuring they have access to timely medical care when needed.

Maria, the Hebrew teacher, is helping the residents feel more at home by teaching them basic Hebrew. “My greatest desire is to make them love the land,” she said. “I want them to feel at home in Israel.” Maria’s lessons not only teach language but also foster a deeper connection to the land.

It is important to remember that the survivors of the Holocaust played a crucial role in the founding of the State of Israel. Many of them were among the first waves of refugees arriving after the war, and contributing to the rebuilding of Jewish life in the Land of Israel. Today, these survivors remain an integral part of Israel’s collective memory, with their stories serving as living testimonies of resilience and survival. For many of these survivors, living in Israel is not just about physical safety—it is about living in a place where their history is not only acknowledged but celebrated.

Christians around the world play a crucial role in funding the operations of the ICEJ’s Home for Holocaust Survivors in Haifa. Your contributions help provide essential services, from medical assistance to emotional support, ensuring that the survivors can live with dignity and safety—even in the face of war.

Donate today: help.icej.org/survivors

Photos: ICEJ