By Nativia Samuelsen

On October 7 last year, the peaceful community of Nir Oz, located a mere mile (1.6 kilometres) from the Gaza border, became a place of unimaginable tragedy. Hamas terrorists stormed the village, leaving devastation in their path. Over 80% of the kibbutz was destroyed, 100 residents were killed or kidnapped, and the surviving family members were left to grapple with their agonising loss and trauma. For the 300 residents left alive, the physical and emotional scars run deep, and the road to rebuilding their lives is daunting. Even to this day, 29 residents of Nir Oz remain as captives in the dungeons of Gaza.

With one-quarter of the kibbutz either dead or held hostage, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has been acutely aware of the dire need for renewed hope and healing within the Nir Oz community. Thanks to the generosity of our American Christian supporters, the ICEJ has supported an innovative approach to help these families as they begin to rebuild. After living as an evacuated community in distant hotels for months, residents of Nir Oz chose to move closer to home in temporary housing in Kiryat Gat while continuing discussions about their future. While the government provided apartments and basic furniture for these temporary homes, these stark and unfamiliar spaces required a more personal touch to make them warm and comfortable.

In response to their requests for help, the ICEJ has contributed to a unique initiative of the kibbutz that combines trauma care with practical assistance, pairing each family with a social worker and volunteer interior designer. The social workers and designers listen to the families’ stories so they can understand their emotional needs, then guide and help them in selecting and installing household items suited to their needs. For children now struggling to sleep in a room separate from their parents, the designers reimagine their living spaces to address fears or ‘trauma triggers’ and create rooms and lighting that offer comfort, security, and a sense of peace.

“We arrived here and tried to restart and organise our lives anew,” shared Rotem Cohen, a Nir Oz survivor and mother of three. “Everything had to start from scratch – the kibbutz environment we were used to, the rooms for the children, everything was different. It is not easy to go from a village to the city.”

She also emphasised the challenges of coping while still in shock, adding, “We wanted to feel like this was our home, not just a borrowed, temporary place. This project gave us the push to begin.”

This process goes beyond furniture or decoration. It is about empowering families to regain a sense of control after everything was taken from them. Designers guide them through every step – from choosing furnishings, whether online or in-store, to placing items thoughtfully within the home. The work is done in consultation with social workers, ensuring emotional support is woven into every stage. By the end of the project, the goal is for each apartment to feel like a true home, not just a temporary space, providing families with the peace and normalcy they so deeply need.

“On behalf of the ICEJ, we are privileged to come alongside them and to help those who lost everything on that fateful black Shabbat,” explained Nicole Yoder, ICEJ Vice President of Aid & Aliyah. “This is so much more than just replacing what was lost, though providing new household items is much needed. It is about being with them as they process the pain and supporting them so they know that they are not forgotten.”

Rotem expressed her gratitude for the kindness of strangers who stepped in during her family’s darkest days.

“We talk about it all the time, how amazing it is that so many truly good people, who don’t even know us, give of themselves. Nothing is taken for granted,” she assured. “This is a lesson we’ve taught our children as well.”

As the project progresses, the focus remains on helping families regain a sense of stability and normalcy while laying the groundwork for a bettter future. Through these efforts, the residents of Nir Oz are slowly reclaiming their lives, step-by-step, with the support and care of those who stand with them in these challenging times. Now that they have determined to rebuild their kibbutz as well, the ICEJ will continue to stand with Nir Oz and other Israeli communities in the western Negev in the years to come. To support more projects such as this, please give to our Israel in Crisis fund.

Donate today at: help.icej.org/crisis

Main photo: Nicole Yoder (L), ICEJ VP of Aid and Aliyah, and Rotem Cohen (R), a Nir Oz survivor, are looking at a shirt depicting a hostage’s face.