The Campaign to Rebuild Nir Oz

October 29, 2024 in Israel

During Yom Kippur, our Beth El community heard the heartbreaking story from Kibbutz Nir Oz family member Carmit Palty Katzir. Carmit’s father Rami, 79, was killed on October 7th. Hamas terrorists took her mother Hana, 77, and her older brother Elad, 47, as captives. Hanna was released in a temporary ceasefire deal in November 2023, but Elad was killed in captivity and his body returned in an IDF action in April 2024. Carmit and her sister Avital, were both spared, having chosen not to spend that holiday weekend with their parents in their childhood home.

One-quarter of Nir Oz’s residents were murdered or kidnapped on Oct. 7th, among the 1,200 people killed throughout the south of Israel on that horrific day. Carmit, a clinical social worker specializing in mental health who lives near Haifa in northern Israel, has become a leader in the hostage families campaign.

Beth El has joined with area synagogues, Ohr Kodesh and B’nei Israel, and MoEd, to provide tangible support to Nir Oz members, bringing 43 families to the US over Shavuot for some respite and relief. Now, the American Friends of Nir Oz (AFNO) has launched as a U.S.-based nonprofit organization. Its mission is to unite American donors and supporters to help rebuild the kibbutz, restore the physical and emotional well-being of the survivors and sustain the community during their temporary displacement.

During Mitzvah Day on October 27, we also collected funds to support Nir Oz’s dream to rebuild its beloved on-site pub by purchasing drink coupons to use when it becomes possible to visit again.

Read more about the campaign here.