With the start of the Jewish New Year, ATZUM held an event for Righteous Among the Nations living in Israel. Originally from Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Holland, the group of rescuers gathered together on a beautiful day in September in Haifa. The gathering was an opportunity for the rescuers to
see each other and enjoy a day out — both rare commodities. With hopes that as many people as possible could benefit from the gathering, ATZUM chose to hold the meeting at Café Greg. Café Greg is located adjacent to the community center in Haifa’s Neve Yosef neighborhood. This particular branch of Café Greg is run by at risk teens, where all profits are donated to the community. (To learn more about the initiative click here.) The gathering of Righteous Among the Nations with such heroic pasts, meeting in a place striving to provide a better future for Israel’s youth, was very powerful for all involved.
The day concluded with songs led by volunteer singer Ritasue Charlestein. She and the rescuers sang together from sheets of Hebrew and transliterated Russian lyrics. The group finished by singing together “Yerushalyim Shel Zahav” – Jerusalem of Gold.
