Aharon Shemesh
Age: 84
Born: Iran
Immigrated to Israel: 1951
Home: Kiryat Shmona
Evacuated to: An apartment in Migdal
Interviewer: Bracha Tor
Interview location: Oncology Day Clinic, Ziv Medical Center
I miss the quiet, the calm, the homey atmosphere; my kitchen, my son — a police officer — who remained in Nahariya far from me, and my grandchildren and children who stayed in the north.
A beautiful and joyful period in my life was the month of Kislev, when my daughter Noa, who lives in Karmiel, gave birth to her daughter and I came to help her for a full month.
Another joyful time was in January, during a ceasefire, when my eldest granddaughter celebrated her bat mitzvah. We came to Nahariya for a week and I also visited my home.
Festive family events make me very happy, and every joy gives me continued strength for many months.
From this period I learned that one must rejoice in one’s portion, enjoy every moment, and take nothing for granted.
No one imagined this is what would happen to us. Everything was so sudden and painful. We simply forget to appreciate the small things when life is good and quiet.
We must appreciate everything and take nothing for granted — to rejoice and say thank you in every moment for what we have.
I give thanks for every breath of my life, for my family, for the people who are with me in the hotel, for the sense of cohesion we have created, and for the fact that even here, far from home, we feel like one big family.
May there be calm and tranquility, so that we can live joyfully in our small and beloved country, that peace and unconditional love will prevail among us — and then no one will be able to overcome us.
I bless the entire people of Israel: may we merit the rebuilding of the Temple speedily and the coming of the righteous Messiah; may love, brotherhood, peace, tranquility, and quiet dwell among us; and may we know only good and happy days. Amen.
I spent the holiday in Shlomi at my daughter’s home. We were in the synagogue when we learned that war had broken out.
After two days, my husband and I, my daughter Naama, and my daughter Avivit together with her children (because her husband was drafted into the war) traveled to my daughter Noa’s home in Karmiel.
After a week, we called the Shlomi emergency center, and they told us to go to Jerusalem, to the Dan Hotel.
It was very, very difficult for me. I was deeply confused and never imagined it would last so long.
I am a woman who loves to love. I connected deeply with everyone. We are a very close-knit family in the hotel — there for one another — alongside my biological family as well.
May we learn to love one another. This unity is so important for Israel. When we are united, no one will be able to break us.
Age: 84
Born: Iran
Immigrated to Israel: 1951
Home: Kiryat Shmona
Evacuated to: An apartment in Migdal
Interviewer: Bracha Tor
Interview location: Oncology Day Clinic, Ziv Medical Center
70, born in Casablanca, Morocco.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
87, born in Libya.
Immigrated from Morocco in 1949.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
69.
Immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union in 1990.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
76, born in Tunisia.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
Yael Karidi / 86 / Born in Givatayim, lives in Kibbutz Malkiya / Evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel |
Spiritual support and interviews: Bracha Tor / Photography: Sharon Levy
Sefi / 81 / Born in Iran, lives in Kibbutz Malkiya / Evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel |
Spiritual support and interviews: Bracha Tor / Photography: Sharon Levy
Tzipa Peretz, 77, born in Kibbutz Dafna, evacuated from Kibbutz Dafna to the Nof Kinneret Hotel. Interview: Bracha Tor
Photography: Sharon Levy
79. Born in Bahrain. lives in Moshav Margaliot.
Evacuated to Hotel at Kibbutz Lavi.
Spiritual care and interviews: Bracha Tor. |
Tamar Katz / 81 / Born in Chulata. Lives in Kibbutz Malkiya /
Evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel | Spiritual support and interviews: Bracha Tor /
Photography: Sharon Levy
83, born in India.
Immigrated to Israel in 1966.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
74 / Born in Argentina, lives in Kibbutz Manara / Evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel |
Spiritual support and interviews: Bracha Tor / Photography: Sharon Levy
Age 93, born in Romania, immigrated to Israel in 1935, lives in Malkiya, evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel.
Interview: Bracha Tor
90, born in Yemen.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
Katzir / 88 / Born in Givat Michael, lives in Dafna / Evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel |
Spiritual support and interviews: Bracha Tor / Photography: Sharon Levy
Shlomo Turjeman / 79 / Born in Morocco, lives in Shlomi / Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel |
Spiritual support and interviews: Nava Tal / Photography: Dor Pazuelo
70, born in Israel (Safed).
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
70, born in Israel.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
Naftali Shmueli, age 91.5, born in Jerusalem, lives in Kibbutz Malkiya, evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel | Interview and photography: Bracha Tor
Hagar Ehrlich Hachster / 73 /
Born and lives in Kibbutz Manara / Evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel |
Spiritual support and interviews: Bracha Tor
Photography: Bracha Tor
Age 93, born in Romania, immigrated to Israel in 1935, lives in Malkiya, evacuated to the Nof Kinneret Hotel.
Interview: Bracha Tor
Alegria Turjeman / 77 / Born in Morocco, lives in Shlomi / Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel
Spiritual support and interviews: Nava Tal / Photography: Dor Pazuelo
69, born in Israel (Tiberias).
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel.
Interviewer: Nava Tal