Dear Friends,
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine Migdal has taken families and children out of the active war zone four times to Jewish Family Retreat Halom. While horrific attacks on Odesa and other Ukrainian cities continue, we are planning our fifth wartime retreat so we can provide the much awaited and loved Halom this summer yet again. Our main theme will be focusing on mental health, healing and emotional recovery of all participants who are currently living under constant intense stress and trauma.
All difficulties during the war do not stop us from embarking on a journey of compassion and support, and creating unforgettable, unique experiences. Our past participants shared through Migdal SoulTalk what they are going through every day, their thoughts and feelings, their personal stories, what role Migdal plays in their lives, and why Halom is so important to them.
Irina Lipovskaya, mother of three children shared with us that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine she felt fear, anger, a strong sense of anxiety for loved ones, depression, more frequent irritability and nervousness, sadness and melancholy, sense of instability and unreliability of everything that her life was built on. Here is her personal story: ‘I have three children. The two older girls 25 and 28 years old left the country. I rarely see them and miss them very much. I stayed here with my husband and youngest son, because my mother, who has not left the house for a long time, needs help. My husband is not allowed to leave the country now. It was very hard for our child when all his friends left at the beginning of the war. Migdal saved him. I found support here. My son found new friends here. Migdal is like an island of safety and stability in a world where rockets fly and shells explode. Here in Migdal they maintain optimism and common sense, and help to switch attention to good things. This is absolutely priceless when you live in a world that has gone crazy. Every Halom I have been to since the war began has had a profound effect on me. I go there in a disorganized and emotionally exhausted state, and I return revived, with the strength and energy to live on, to do something useful. And this is entirely due to the Migdal team, for which I am very grateful. It was also important that all these Haloms took place abroad. There were no alarms, blackouts, or night attacks. There was a world around where people continued to live their normal lives. I want to say a huge thank you to the Migdal team for everything they do. They managed to create a community that is like a second family. Everyone here supports each other. Thank you very much for all the interesting projects, for new knowledge about Jewish traditions, for warmth, attention, care, and more.’
We are going to continue our tradition of creating a family atmosphere, friendship, collaboration, understanding and inspiration this summer once again regardless of extremely harsh reality. Please consider supporting our fifth wartime Halom by donating or sharing this post with friends, family, and all others in your networks and on social media for maximum impact. Every bit of support makes a huge difference.
