This year, as we continue to lead Orphan Shabbat www.orphanshabbat.org our HaTikva Families team was able to collect generous donations from local believers to purchase gifts for orphans and at risk children living in local youth villages.  Our great thanks to those who donated and to those who recognized Orphan Shabbat/Orphan Sunday throughout the world.

Orphan Shabbat 2021 | Stories | HaTikva Project

Following the outbreak of the October 7th war, Israel rapidly mobilized tens of thousands of reserve soldiers and abruptly thrust them into combat with a depraved enemy. The men who answered the call were not the typical image that a “combat soldier” brings to mind. Many were fathers in their 30s who served in the military when they were younger but have been working in regular careers and leading non-military lives since then. They were accountants, plumbers, media professionals, and even worship leaders. Within a few hours’ notice, they dusted off their old uniforms, kissed their wives and children goodbye, and headed toward Gaza, not knowing what awaited them there.

The atrocities that they encountered were unfathomable. Many of them spent months experiencing the worst horrors that war has to offer, even losing close friends who fought alongside them.

As the campaign in Gaza began to wane, the IDF sent soldiers home to return to the lives they had been previously living.  But how could they possibly process the human tragedy they saw within such a swift transition?  Many struggled to reconnect with their family as they were physically present at home, but their minds were still in the battle. HaTikva Project stepped in to help with this critical need to send these soldiers and their families for respite retreats abroad where the family could spend a few weeks in a serene location, with all of their needs met and with the assistance of counselors, to recover emotionally and spiritually and reconnect with each other.

HaTIkva Project sent the W. family to a restorative retreat in Texas. The father of the family had been called up to reserves and spent two months in Gaza, and for two months, his wife didn’t know if he would return or what shape he would be in when he did. When his tour of duty ended and he came home safe, he was struggling to cope with what he had been through. He writes:

“The trip HaTikva sent us on came as such a blessing to us as we now get to spend some amazing quality time together. Arriving at our first destination, we saw the Israeli flag flying on the lawn, being hugged by the American flag, and it is an image we will never forget! The W. family is sending you all a hug and thanking you for making this a reality.”

Following the outbreak of the October 7th war, Israel rapidly mobilized tens of thousands of reserve soldiers and abruptly thrust them into combat with a depraved enemy.

W's Story | Blog | HaTikva Project

Hannah is a 62-year-old refugee from Ukraine. While living in Ukraine, she underwent her first heart surgery, after which she decided to have a second one here in Israel, where her sister lives.

She traveled to Israel right after the war broke out in Ukraine and has been here as a refugee since. She is a professional farmer who knows everything about fruits and vegetables. She had everything in her home in Ukraine, including land, animals, poultry, a house, and a car.

She lost everything as the frontline of the war approached her village. She recalls her good memories in Ukraine, and every time she thinks about her home, she can’t hold back her tears.

Hannah cannot work here in Israel, and walking is difficult for her because of the pain that remains after her second surgery and the pain in her knees from years of farming.

A while ago, Hannah encountered a store run by believers in Tel Aviv that offered free clothes and accepted Yeshua as her Savior. She expresses that she felt angels were helping and supporting her since that moment.

Hannah was so grateful to learn about HaTikva Dental and the team of professional doctors who could help with her teeth. She began coming to the clinic, where two of her wisdom teeth were extracted. She was afraid that the antibiotics after the procedure would hurt her heart, but she says that God did a miracle, and the day after the extraction, she was already pain-free.

What an awesome God! Hannah experienced the staff's kindness and thanked the Lord for His protection and provision. She is hopeful to one day be able to return to Ukraine and restore her war-damaged home.

Hannah's Story | Blog | HaTikva Project

Rachel first visited Israel when she was young and knew it would be her future home. Several years later, she moved to Israel from Columbia, married her husband, Eitan, and had their first child.

On October 7th, Eitan was part of the staff at the Nova music festival. Shortly after the massacre, Rachel learned that Hamas took him captive in Gaza and, from that moment, has had no contact with him. As Rachel awaits any news from the government regarding her husband, she and her son have been living in the same home as Eitan’s parents, his brother, his wife, and their children.

Eitan’s family has been processing their emotions together in this same small space, making it difficult for Rachel to create an emotionally stable environment for her son as they live in the nightmare of not knowing the actual status of Eitan.

Her son scans the posters of the hostages so that he can find his dad’s picture, as that is the only relationship he has with him at the moment. Rachel shared with us how helpful it would be for her and her son to have their own home to have space to process and grieve.

Because of the giving of our faithful partners, HaTikva Project has been able to rent Rachel a separate apartment near the family for at least six months! Pray with us that Eitan will be home soon!

Orphan Shabbat 2021

November 7th, 2021 |HaTikva Families

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