Nahal Oz Recovery

Dear friends,

The Abaita family, Chef David and Chef Sruli, are supporting Kibbutz Nahal Oz.

Kibbutz Nahal Oz is a tight knit community of 300 adults and 150 children and teenagers. The kibbutz is agriculturally based with a dairy farm, poultry, field crops, bananas and avocados. It Located 0.5 of a mile from Gaza.

Community life was turned inside out at 6.30 am on Saturday, Oct. 7^th, with the horrific attack of the Hamas launched a massive terror attack upon the State of Israel.

Instead of celebrating Nahal Oz 70th anniversary that night, the families spent the day under siege inside the 'safe rooms', fortified rooms with 40" concrete walls which exist in every house in the community.

For 24 hours entire families locked themselves in their homes hoping and praying for the IDF troops to come and save them. For many hours they knew nothing about the world outside as all electricity and communication services were lost. Sitting in the dark, with no connection to their loved ones outside, with minimal food and water, unable to leave the room even for using the toilet, waiting to be rescued.

Outside their windows, the sounds of war were heard; missiles, sirens, gunfire, and terrorists speaking between them, planning the most effective ways to try and destroy everything and everyone they love. Some of them heard the terrorists trying to break into their houses. Others, watched on their surveillance cameras how terrorists broke the doors and were in their home, on their way to the safe rooms. Many friends held the door with their bare hands and bodies, trying with all their might to prevent the terrorists from breaking into the shelter.

Around 4 pm, one family at a time, brave soldiers started releasing the families of the Kibbutz, after intense battles with the terrorists. The last family was rescued at 5 am, almost 24 hours after the attack began.

The Nahal Oz community was evacuated to Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek in northern Israel, which opened its heart and its homes to the members.

The greatest loss is the death of 13 Kibbutz's members. It is also known that two members are still missing and presumably kidnapped.

The Kibbutz itself suffered massive damages. The dairy farm was completely destroyed, all of the Kibbutz tractors were burnt, water systems in the avocado plantation were destroyed, the chicken coops, with the chickens inside them, were incinerated. Multiple houses were ransacked and destroyed, dozens of cars were burnt.

Nahal Oz is grieving the loss of its beloved members and praying for the return of the hostages. With the support of the Abaita family, we hope to help them recover and rebuild Nahal Oz.