** The Jewish community in Miami has already raised an incredible $150,000 in support of the Thanks4Giving mission, with additional contributions continuing to come in through this crowdfunding campaign**
Miami's Jewish community is honored to host the brave members of the civilian emergency teams from Kibbutz Or Haner, Kibbutz Yakhini, Kibbutz Zikim, Moshav Mivtahim, Moshav Yesha, Yishuv Tzohar and Kibbutz Yated. 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 civilian emergency teams 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? November 11 - November 18, 2024
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.
How many? A total of 34 families: 150 individuals, including men, women, and children.
Thanks4Giving Mega-Mission
The delegation of Kibbutz Or Haner, Kibbutz Yakhini, Kibbutz Zikim, Moshav Mivtahim, Moshav Yesha, Yishuv Tzohar and Kibbutz Yated's civilian emergency teams and their families are coming to our community as part of Project 24’s initiative: Thanks4Giving Mega Mission. 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 Yated on October 7th?
On the morning of October 7, Maor Habibian, the Ravshatz of Yeted, mobilized the civilian emergency team through his deputy, Eyal Cohen. Fighters Tomer Salem, Shlomi Mechani, and Moti Mitzrafi, along with additional residents armed with pistols, joined the defense efforts. Initial encounters involved capturing a terrorist near the fence and stopping an infiltration attempt. The team identified further threats in nearby greenhouses and set up ambushes while instructing residents to remain indoors due to limited resources and no military support. Overnight, reinforcements from Yishai Spaz’s reserve unit arrived. At dawn, more terrorists breached the settlement’s fence, but the civilian emergency team, with military support, conducted searches and neutralized the threats. By Sunday afternoon, they led evacuations of the community to Eilat.
What Happened in Zikim on October 7th?
At 6:45 AM, two terrorist units arrived at the kibbutz fence. One unit arrived in a stolen army vehicle, probably taken from the beach, and the second arrived on foot a few minutes later, likely after a battle at a nearby IDF base. Members of the civilian emergency team spread out along the fence, and when the terrorists arrived, a gunfight ensued. By the end of the confrontation, the terrorists failed to breach the kibbutz. Some terrorists were neutralized, and others fled. Two members of the civilian emergency team (out of ten) were injured by grenade shrapnel. Thankfully, no kibbutz members or residents were killed or taken hostage.
What Happened in Or Haner on October 7th?
On October 7, 2023, at 6:29 AM, Or HaNer woke up to red alert sirens and a power outage. Residents entered their shelters and heard machine gun fire, while 11 mortar shells and Qassam rockets hit the kibbutz, damaging four homes. The Ravshatz of Kibbutz Erez informed Or HaNer of infiltration attempts, a fatality, and injuries among his team, requesting assistance.
Or HaNer sent its security commander and team members to support the defense of Kibbutz Erez, preventing further infiltration during a three-hour battle with about thirty terrorists. Following the events, Or HaNer was evacuated to Tiberias and then Jerusalem for four months.
What Happened in Yachini on October 7th?
On the morning of October 7th, the head of the civilian emergency team was on vacation abroad but still managed to lock the settlement gates remotely from his phone. Shortly after, a vehicle with eight terrorists arrived but was forced to stop due to the locked gates. The terrorists split into two groups: one of five and another of three. The group of five began a deadly attack, killing Ilan Avraham, Yizhar Chagvi, and Elitzur Chagvi. They later killed Major Peleg Salem and seriously wounded Yehonatan Chagvi, who died due to being unable to be evacuated. They also attempted to attack the home of the head of security’s parents, throwing grenades that thankfully did not explode. Afterward, they flanked the police at the settlement entrance, where three terrorists were neutralized, and the remaining two were killed in Netivot. The group of three that had fled towards the orchards was neutralized within the settlement, with the final terrorist being killed in Elitzur Chagvi's caravan after killing Staff Sergeant Revital Chana Esayag.
What Happened in Yesha on October 7th?
Our civilian emergency team members battled terrorists who came from the Gaza Strip to the junction of the Gush Mivtahim area. After the terrorist cell was neutralized, the civilian emergency team returned to the moshav. About fifteen minutes later, the Ravshatz (head of the civilian emergency team) of Moshav Mivtahim shouted over the radio that there was an infiltration of terrorists from the greenhouses into their community. Our civilian emergency team joined the fighting there, where several of them were murdered.
What Happened in Mivtahim on October 7th?
On October 7 at 6:45 AM, the Ravshatz alerted us of terrorist infiltrations. The civilian emergency team engaged terrorists at the Tzohar Junction before returning to the moshav, where more terrorists were reported. A battle ensued, and three additional fighters joined to help. Tragically, five fighters, including the Ravshatz, were killed. A civilian and an injured fighter managed to escape. With no defense forces left, the terrorists took over the Ravshatz's father’s home, but were unable to breach the safe room where his family was hiding.
What Happened in Tzohar on October 7th?
On the morning of October 7, a missile attack hit our community. Head of civilian emergancy team Haim Ben Hemo quickly opened the public bomb shelters, as homes in Tzohar lack safe rooms. Amid chaos, Deputy Maor Turgeman, and Haim engaged in combat to stop terrorists from infiltrating our settlement. With only two long-barreled weapons and limited ammunition, the team managed to save many lives. Tragically, two children from the settlement and 13 others were killed that morning at the nearby junction where the civilian emergancy team fought.
With great honor, our community will host the communities civilian emergency teams 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 7 kibbutzim/ moshavim civilian emergency teams and their families is $200,000. We've raised so far $80,000+.
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
