Our community is honored to host the brave members of the emergency response team from Kibbutz Magen, civilians who will stand as a testament to their courage on October 7th when they defended their homes and blocked Hamas's infiltration deeper into Israel.
The brave members of the emergency response team who fought on October 7th will be coming with their families—their partners and children, the very people they embraced before heading out to fight and left in the safe room.
When? From November 10th until November 16th.
What? A week where our community will host them in our homes, connect with them, listen to their stories, and give them the honor they truly deserve for their incredible bravery and sacrifice. They will be staying with families in our community and participating in various community events.
Why? Given the ongoing war in Israel, the brave civilians hardly received proper acknowledgment for their unending bravery. Their courage is almost forgotten. We believe it is never too late to rewrite a story… and that is exactly what Thanks4Giving is all about. This week-long mission will have a profound impact on both Israelis and New York's Jewish communities, enhancing people-to-people connections, creating and strengthening personal ties, and fostering deeper bonds. It will also facilitate mutual healing, offering both communities a chance to support and uplift each other through meaningful interactions and shared experiences.
How many? A total of 11 families: 41 individuals, including men, women, and children.
Thanks4Giving Mega-Mission
The delegation of the Magen civilian emergency team and their families are coming to us as part of Project 24’s mega-mission initiative: Thanks4Giving. This initiative honors all the brave civilian emergency teams that fought on that horrific October 7th day. Our community is part of 28 others that are coming together to host these brave heroes and their families, and honor them in an organized week of intimate community events, and large-scale gala ceremonies that will honor these fighters as they deserve to be honored.
Imagine this: come early November, the families of Israeli heroes will be walking the streets of our community and many others in this area.
Join us now in raising the funds to bring them here.
This is an event of connecting hearts, mutual healing, unmediated connections, and performing a mitzvah that resonates around the world.
What Happened in Magen on October 7th?
On Oct. 7th, 2023, fifty Hamas terrorists infiltrated to the kibbutz with one goal - to kill, kidnap and rape as many Jews as possible. As the bloodthirsty terrorists arrived at the kibbutz, they were met by a brave civilian emergency team prepared to protect their community with their lives. After long hours of face-to-face combat, the team prevented the terrorists from infiltrating the peaceful community.
As a result of this attack, two kibbutz members were murdered and two more were wounded. The kibbutz's executive branch suffered a devastating blow. The community manager was kidnapped to Gaza with her children, a kibbutz member was kidnapped with her spouse while staying at another kibbutz. All community members were locked in the safe rooms for 24 hours and it took many more long hours until the Israeli military declared the kibbutz to be free of terrorists. The shattered and traumatized community was displaced to a hotel in the Dead Sea for nine months. Looking to the future is the only thing left to do for Kibbutz Magen. As we rise from bereavement and despair, we turn the table on our narrative. As of July 2024, 90% of the community have returned to the Kibbutz. We are the first Kibbutz, in the Eshkol regional council, to have returned home west of road 232 (0-4 km from the border).
The October 7th story of Magen is deeply intertwined. With great honor, our community will host the community civilian emergency team and their respective families, and join them on this path of healing, connection and togetherness.
How You Can Help: Fundraising for Success
To make this mega-mission a success, we need your support. Help us reach our financial goals for this trip.
Funding Needs:
The cost of bringing Magen is approximately $65,000.
Your contributions will help cover the following expenses:
- Flights and Transportation. Ensuring safe and comfortable travel for the group.
- Planning and Coordination. Covering the costs associated with organizing and executing the week-long events and activities.
- Community Events and Activities. Funding for community Shabbat dinners, local experiences, and other planned events.
By working together, we can honor and support the brave members of the kibbutzim who have sacrificed so much. Your generosity will help create a meaningful and impactful experience for them and their families.
Thanks4Giving Mega Mission is brought to you by Project 24: Project 24 was launched a few days following October 7th. We create taylor-made projects that connect Israeli and North American Jews
www.project24israel.org
Learn more about T4G
