(Courtesy of B’Yachad Nibaneh) Eighteen months ago, a first-of-its-kind joint community initiative was established to identify a community in the Gaza Envelope that was affected by the tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023, with the goal of finding ways to rebuild together. With guidance from senior leaders including Rabbi Chaim Poupko (Congregation Ahavath Torah, Englewood), Rabbi Emeritus Shmuel Goldin (Congregation Ahavath Torah, Englewood), Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon (founder of Sulamot) and Orna Babivai (former Israel MK and retired IDF Major General), B’Yachad Nibaneh identified Netiv Ha’Asara and began an effort titled, בְּיַחַד נִבָּנֶה Building Together. This moshav of 300 families, located less than a kilometer from the Gaza border, lost 20 precious men, women and children on Oct. 7.
Six Bergen County synagogues and the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey developed ongoing engagement initiatives to connect their communities to Netiv Ha’Asara families and individuals as well as raise much-needed funds to help them cope and rebuild.
On Tuesday Chol Hamoed Pesach, the fruits of the group’s fundraising efforts were realized with a dedication event at the moshav attended by more than 100 members of the Englewood and Tenafly communities who were spending Pesach in Israel. Buses were arranged from two central locations in Israel to transport Bergen families to the moshav.
When participants arrived they were greeted by the leaders of Netiv Ha’Asara, many whom the Bergen County families had grown close with over the last year and a half, and some whom they had housed in their own New Jersey communities during a community-wide shabbaton in February 2024. The weather was glorious with the sun shining down as the group walked to the lookout point led by Netiv Ha’Asara head of partnerships, Yoni Shaked. Here Shaked shared the geographical location of the moshav, pointing out landmarks within Gaza and the border that could be seen clearly, and explained in detail how Hamas terrorists parachuted into the moshav on that fateful early morning of Oct. 7.
The American group then headed back to their cars and buses for the short ride past the famous peace wall Netiv Ha’Asara peaceniks resurrected many years before Oct. 7, and stopped at the tallest Israeli flag in the entire country of Israel, resurrected in the moshav last year with the goal of it being visible from Gaza.
Now it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for—the dedication of two renovated community centers funded through בְּיַחַד נִבָּנֶה First, they gathered in a serene garden to dedicate the “Safe Studio,” a place where residents struggling with emotional and social challenges in the aftermath of the tragedy can come for healing, creativity and resiliency. This therapeutic space was created for trauma processing and emotional recovery.
The group heard remarks from Tomer Nitzan, longtime resident and new mayor of the moshav; Marcy Cohen, tri-lead of בְּיַחַד נִבָּנֶה (with Elad Hibsher and Alex Solomon of Congregation Ahavath Torah). Cohen spoke about the many events and initiatives that have taken place between the two communities—from mishloach manot deliveries during the last two Purim holidays, to JFNNJ hosting 21 teens in Bergen County last April for a week of respite and fun, to the building of a menorah by the Moriah School children made with remnants of the pottery of Bilha Ynon, a longtime Netiv Ha’Asara resident who was killed alongside her husband on Oct. 7. Remarks were followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and then by a dvar Torah from Rabbi Goldin, who said the blessing as he hung a new mezuzah inside the building.
The Safe Studio includes two permanent plaques about B’Yachad Nibaneh explaining the partnership. Important components of the studio include bat mitzvah projects from two Englewood girls, a core component of בְּיַחַד נִבָּנֶה, Annie’s Bakery—a brand new kitchen funded by Annie Altman’s bat mitzvah bake sale, and 25 resin mezuzot made by Gemma Wolf and her friends to celebrate her bat mitzvah, which will be hung in all public buildings on the moshav.
The group then moved on to the second dedication—the newly renovated Youth Center. After a ribbon cutting and another mezuzah ceremony, they filed in to experience a fun, modern, whimsical space for moshav kids to gather and enjoy themselves. From a massive green velvet round sofa that functioned more like a trampoline (dedicated by the TV show “Big Brother”) on which kids from the moshav were jumping and dancing, to the free-form chalk wall filled with designs and names, to the photo collage spelling out Netiv Ha’Asara in Hebrew, to multiple brightly painted lounge areas, a kitchen area and an air hockey table … participants in awe of the attention to detail in both spaces.
Finally, the New Jersey group was treated to a beautiful catered meat lunch outside under the shade of Café Otef umbrellas, where they ate and schmoozed with Netiv Ha’Asara residents and leaders and listened to music by the moshav accordion player.
It was then time to head to the buses and cars that had transported the Bergen County contingent to this magical place. Everyone exchanged hugs and knew they would be back. When B’Yachad Nibaneh began this effort soon after Oct. 7, they knew they wanted to help a community. Little did the participants know how much it would help them—to feel a deep connection to a community and its residents, and to know they are helping during this difficult time.
To make a donation to בְּיַחַד נִבָּנֶה, scan the
QR code.
