The winter holiday of Chanukah celebrates the military victory of the Jewish people against their oppressors. Now, over 2,000 years later, the Israel Defense Forces protects the State of Israel, and the non-profit organization Yashar LaChayal provides its soldiers with humanitarian support and lets them know that they are appreciated. In that vein, on December 17 Yashar LaChayal hosted several dozen soldiers, as well as Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, at a Chanukah candle-lighting party in the “Warm Corner” rest station for soldiers it has recently built.

The rest station, one of a dozen located throughout Israel, is located at the entrance to a town called Nokdim. Its purpose is to provide a comfortable, safe environment for soldiers on patrol in the area who need a place to rest from their eight-hour shifts. The rest station is stocked with free food and beverages for the soldiers.

The rest station at Nokdim was only opened two months ago, but it is very active, with hundreds of soldiers benefiting from it each month. Defense Minister Lieberman attended the rest station’s candle-lighting ceremony and treated the soldiers in attendance to pizza, while Yashar LaChayal provided the rest of the food and beverages, including special dishes traditional to Chanukah. Army officers, local residents and municipal officials were also in attendance.

The defense minister thanked the soldiers for their service, and the town residents for doing their part to host them. He also had warm words for Yashar LaChayal and its “Warm Corner” project. He said, “I can testify as someone who passes by the Warm Corner late at night and early in the morning, there are many soldiers who use it and enjoy every moment there!”

To learn more about the many ways Yashar LaChayal supports IDF soldiers, visit www.yasharlachayal.org.

To find out more about donating a new “Warm Corner” or of making a recurring donation to sponsor monthly costs, contact [email protected].

By Amichai Bacharach