Working with many Survivors of Terror, we rely on home visits to help develop a stronger relationship with the families. These visits are helpful, giving us a better understanding of their needs and offering us insight that allows us to help more effectively. Yesterday we made a home visit together. It was one of the most emotionally packed visits we have shared and feel compelled to share it with ATZUM’s friends.
Every day we hear about this problem or that challenge, often with a request for help. Yesterday we were not asked for assistance; rather we were spontaneously drawn into the world of a child who against all expectations survived a terror attack.
O is eight years old and suffers severe neurological damage as a result of a Kassam rocket attack last year. We visit with the family often and have shared many joyous moments as he continues to surprise his physicians who thought he would not live; would not walk; would not talk. But he can and does all that and so much more. This beautiful and precocious child managed to exhaust us one day at the mall and another at the zoo.
Generally full of energy he knows exactly what he wants to do. Happy to see us, yesterday he did not even want to open his gift. During the visit he was upset, his mind racing, shooting off thoughts like sparks as they run down a sparkler’s wire stick.
One moment talking about food and then flashing back to the time of the rocket attack; the next crying and asking his mother, “Why me? Why not you? Why not my friends?” Within minutes he asked the nurse, “Can you give me a shot and fix my arm?” and then asking pointing to his damaged arm, “Who did this to me?” Moments later was talking about his baby sister “who is really beautiful.” This was followed by more questions like “Can I get married?” All these thoughts were threaded with casual conversation while we tossed a ball.
Reading and learning about the affects of trauma is one thing, seeing it is another. His mother could barely keep pace with him. She would relax as he chose a neutral subject only to be struck again by his next thought. The frustration was immense, just one year after the attack the impact is crystallizing for him. Unclear Remembering the attack; what has happened since; his disabilities and what will be his future.
We were welcomed during a very stressful time and overwhelmed by his mother’s strength, patience and love. We feel privileged to be able to offer support by sending volunteers and offering assistance when needed. Just as we have shared those joyous moments as he began to walk and talk we look forward to being there to offer support as he fights towards a complete recovery.
Miri Furstenberg, 61, lives in Rishon Lezion and is the widowed mother of two and grandmother of four. She is a survivor of the Ma’ale Akrabim massacre, an attack on a bus that killed eleven passengers including her entire family.
Miri grew up an orphan on a kibbutz, without rehabilitation, her experience typical of many terror survivors from Israel’s early years when the State was ill-equipped to address their needs. Despite Miri’s traumatic, emotionally disadvantaged childhood, she worked hard to rebuild her life, raised and supported two children. In addition to now working long hours as a taxi driver for some of Israel’s most prominent professionals, Miri volunteers helping poverty stricken families as well as mentally retarded adults.
David Ben-Elisha (from the Sharabi martial center) won a silver medal at the first world championship in Taekwondo which took place in Azerbaijan on June 10, 2009. Ben-Elisha participated in a competition for handicapped. Ben-Elisha, 43, was critically injured in a terror attack in Tel Aviv in 2003. As a result his arm was amputated. Since the terror attack, Ben-Elisha began practicing Taekwondo and became a successful athlete. He was sent to this unique competition by his well known personal karate trainer, David Sharabi.
A righteous gentile was added to the honored list of Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem last week. The righteous rescuer, Feodor Mikhailchenko, was posthumously honored for saving the young life of the past chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Rabbi Lau was a young child when he was separated from his family and incarcerated in Nazi Germany’s Buchenwald concentration camp.
Mikhailichenko’s daughters attended the ceremony at Yad Vashem last week that honored their late father as a Righteous Among the Nations. Rav Lau was emotional when he spoke about the person who saved his life. Pointing to his son and grandchild, Rabbi Lau stated that neither would be here today if not for Mikhailichenko.
The Good People Fund is a Tzedaka organization that works with ATZUM to help survivors of terror and Righteous Among the Nations. It is one of the organizations that ATZUM turns to as a resource to try and meet some of the needs of the people we assist before depleting our own resources. Atzum’s social worker, Karyn London, recently turned to 
On May 21st, 2009 in celebration of “Yom Yerushalayim”
