Project 24 Proudly Presents:
Thanks4Giving
Mega Mission
Honoring the Civilian Emergency Teams & Their Families | November 2024 | NY & Florida
On October 7th, at 6:29 AM, kibbutz members awoke to rocket sirens and explosions. Within moments, and without knowing what was next, these civilians transformed into emergency squads, bravely leaving their families in safe rooms to confront hundreds of Hamas terrorists attacking their home.
Their courageous actions not only protected their communities, but served as a shield for all of Israel, preventing far greater destruction across the country.
We do not forget our heroes.
Given the ongoing war in Israel, the brave civilians hardly received proper acknowledgment for their unending bravery. Their courage is almost forgotten.
We believe it is never too late to rewrite a story… and that is exactly what Thanks4Giving is all about.
This project tells them: We remember.
It tells their families: We haven’t forgotten.
Your father is a superhero who saved many lives. Here is a fraction of the honor he deserves.
“...We took the police officers to Oren's house. He brought equipment. Terrorists who jumped out of the bushes were met with a much stronger burst of fire than before.
Oren is also a friend and partner of mine for many years. Together, we run the soccer clubs for the kibbutz children. The moment I saw him running on the soccer field, everything changed for me.
Until then, I thought I was going to die today and that nothing would be left of the kibbutz. At that moment, I realized we were going to win. We will win because we are together, and we are fighting for our home. The kibbutz will not die.”
“When you run with your friend, there is a sense that you are fighting for your home. For everything that home symbolizes to us – because the kibbutz is home. We are fighting for the place where we raise our children. We are fighting for the petting zoo, for the soccer field, for education, for culture. It’s a fight for home in the broadest sense but also for the smallest things.”
- Imri Bonim,
A member of Kibbutz Re'im Emergency Team
How will this work
What: We will fly the civilian emergency teams, and their families to the US, where they will receive a warm hug and recognition from the Jewish communities in a large and respectable event gala and community hosting.
When: the week of November 10th.
That’s right; there’s a new Jew-ish holiday this year between sukkot and Thanksgiving.
How: Each participating Jewish community will have the honor of hosting 1 kibbutz or moshav team and their families. A squad in a community usually consists of about 6-8 families.
The hosting will include joint activities, rest, pampering, and quality time with the host families, and the rest of the Jewish community. We will hold a festive Thanks4Giving community dinner to honor the delegation members, hear their stories, and embrace them.
A moment of guided imagination
Close your eyes and imagine this: Early to mid-November, a shared Shabbat dinner. Your community is there, your family is there, and the civilian emergency team members from Kibbutz X is there too, with their families. At the same time, more than 100 other Israeli heroes are sitting in similar situations in various Jewish communities.
“Abba, where did you go?!”
Section Title
For us, they are Israeli heroes. But for the child who stayed in the safe room in a kibbutz full of terrorists while the neighbor’s house burned down, and their father was fighting outside – it was a challenging experience of abandonment.
״Where did you go, Abba? How did you leave Ima and us alone without you?...״ These are things that are less talked about, but they certainly sink in.
Our vision:
That these children, who experienced impossible situations and such complex emotions, will see their father on stage, receiving the honor he deserves. We want something in their perspective to change as a result.
(Ambitious, we know. But since when has that stopped us?)
Join Us for an Unforgettable Experience
At the moment we already have a few communities who already picked up their hand in the tri-state area (NY), and Florida.
Want to learn more?
Project 24 was born with the goal of assisting individuals and communities affected by the events of October 7th.
The initiative supports those impacted by the attack and its aftermath by creating projects that provide unique solutions to the needs emerging from the ground.
These projects are carried out in collaboration with Jewish communities in the U.S., who are eager to participate in the processes of healing and rebuilding Israeli society.
The projects foster genuine connections between Jews on both sides of the ocean, harnessing the strengths and capabilities of all involved, and generating mutual healing, resilience, and growth.
After several successful dedicated delegations to communities in the U.S., we have understood and experienced their power to create healing, connection, and relationships—both for those giving and those receiving.
Again and again, we receive touching feedback that highlights how we enable our American brethren to perform small mitzvot that feel like part of something big, direct, and meaningful. Straight to the heart.
"...I fell asleep with my uniform and gear beside me. At 1:30 AM, I was awakened by a message from Tuvia, a member of the emergency squad: ״We have terrorists in the house, come quickly.״ I ran behind my house, where I met Harel, the Head of our squad. From there, we were joined by forces from the Paratroopers Brigade.
I never thought I would have to run to Tuvia's house, where my children play all the time, with a weapon ready to fire. I lay down on the sidewalk behind his house so that if terrorists came out from the back, I could take them down.
A Paratroopers unit closed in on the house, threw a grenade inside, entered, and killed the two terrorists. Tuvia and his family were saved. And I just started crying and couldn't stop. I lay on the sidewalk behind Tuvia's house, where I go every day to pick up my kids in the afternoon. I just lay there and cried."
