Dearest friends, I want to open my heart and share something deeply personal and painful that my family has been carrying. On October 7th, my beloved aunt and her husband from Be’eri were taken from us. That same day, my brother and his family in Kibbutz Re’im spent twelve unimaginable hours locked in their safe room, under constant fire, surrounded by terrorists. By a miracle, they survived and were eventually rescued. Since then, they have been living in a temporary apartment in Tel Aviv, far from the home they love. This coming September, after nearly three years, they will finally be able to return home to Kibbutz Re’im. I was able to convince them to come stay with us this June for a month a chance to breathe, to be held, and to simply be together. We hope to give them quiet days, gentle care, and moments of joy while exploring family friendly parks in and around Los Angeles. Most of all, I want to give their beautiful children, Ori (7) and Zohar (5), a space to feel safe again to laugh, to play, and to experience healing moments before returning to the kibbutz. Even a small break from the memories they carry could mean the world for their hearts. For anyone who feels moved to help support this healing time, I’m sharing a link below. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, love, and support.

Ossi Gal