Max Margolis
Michael Margolis from Palm Springs came to Israel to see how Israel is coping after the October 7th terror attack and the “Iron Sword” war. He recently visited the OneFamily Center in Jerusalem to meet Anani Kaploun, whose children survived the terror attack. Michael heard of OneFamily’s “Adopt A Family” program which matches donors with bereaved Israeli families in need of financial support. He wanted to meet a survivor of the attack because he liked “Adopt A Family’s” connection with the Israeli family that takes on a personal relationship. When Michael met Anani, the emotional chemistry was immediate.
OneFamily supports Israeli victims of terror and their families to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. It provides the bereaved, wounded, and orphaned with financial, emotional, and therapeutic care. Recognized as the “First Responders” for emotional trauma OneFamily accompanies terror victims for as long as is needed.
For an hour, Michael listened as Anani and his neighbor Avital recounted how his two children survived. In a choked voice, Anani described his last conversation with his wife Adi. His eyes brightened as he mentioned his children for whom he is father and mother.
On October 7th, 3,000 Hamas terrorists launched a pogrom against Israeli communities on the Gaza border. They murdered 1,200 people, kidnapped 248, and injured 5,000. Hundreds of women were raped. Over 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, hundreds lay in the hospital and there are thousands of bereaved families.
Numbers certainly do tell a story.
But history is also defined by people with names, faces, personalities, and memories. It’s easy to view history by the hazy blur of numbers. More painful to define it by real people.
On the morning of October 7th, Anani Kaploun left his house on Kibbutz Hulit to attend a local dance festival. No one else knew of the catastrophe which was soon to erupt. Anani’s wife Adi and their 2 sons, 4-year-old Negev and 6-month Eshel were asleep when their kibbutz was attacked.
Gunfire and explosions woke them to the horror of the situation. By the time Anani realized what was happening, he couldn’t return to his family in the Kibbutz, surrounded by blood-thirsty terrorists.
Adi was alone with 2 young children. In their last phone call, Anani reminded Adi of the handgun they had. A terrorist broke into their house and shot 4-year-old Negev in the leg. Adi killed the terrorist and soon other terrorists attacked the house. They avenged their dead companion by murdering Adi. In the confusion, Negev with a wounded leg, who witnessed his mother’s murder, dragged his infant brother Eshel out of the house. Avital their neighbor, rescued the children, only to be captured by the terrorists and kidnapped into Gaza.
And then, a miracle. After carrying the boys for hours as they were herded into Gaza, the terrorists released them. Avital, exhausted and drained from the fear of coming eye-to-eye with the terrorists, ran back to Israel and hid until they were rescued by the IDF.
Doctors healed Negev’s wounded leg, but the wound to his psyche, seeing his mother killed, has yet to be repaired. Emotionally, physically, and financially, Anani is a wreck. His once-happy demeanor has been replaced by the post-trauma that defines his being.
After the attack, Anani moved to an apartment in Jerusalem near his parents, who despite their limited resources are helping as best as they can. But as far away as he moves, the tragedy his family suffered is ever-present.
He and the children are undergoing emotional therapy to help them come to terms with the trauma and restart their life.
Anani’s house was blown up by the terrorists. He and the children escaped with the clothes on their backs. Nothing else survived.
When Anani originally moved to Gaza, he started a farm which proved successful. His mangos, pineapples, persimmons, and other tropical fruits were much in demand. He took pride in his work.
The farm is now destroyed. The bombs and rockets fired from Gaza, and the IDF’s heavy artillery and tanks have rendered the land useless.
Anani lost his beloved wife Adi, his home, and the land which provided him with his livelihood and self-confidence. He is left with memories of the horror of Adi’s last moments. That and the trauma of two vulnerable children is more than any man can live with.
Yet he wakes up every morning and readies his children for kindergarten and nursery. One can only imagine the thoughts, memories, and fears that harbor within him.
Avital the neighbor who saved Negev and Eshel hardly looks like a heroine. Small, demure with a quiet voice, she described what she went through on that day. Is this what heroes look like, you ask yourself, listening as she describes personally encountering terrorists, the fear of being a captive and then being released. Bearing the responsibility of the safety of two children.
Avital’s house was also destroyed and she lost everything on October 7th. How did this frail 30-year-old, garner the strength to run for miles into Gaza and then run back into Israel, with no food, water, or the hope of finding safety, while carrying two little children?
When they said goodbye, Michael hugged Anani as if it was hard for them to part. Michael was taking a little piece of Anani back to Palm Springs, and leaving a part of himself in Israel.
”Adopt A Family” is one of the most proactive and emotionally rewarding donor opportunities available to help terror victims. It creates a tangible bond between donor and recipient. It emphasizes OneFamily’s primary objective, “Only Together we can Rebuild Lives Shattered by Terrorism.” Michael summed it up, “This trip has changed my life and I haven’t stopped thinking about Anani and Avital. They are part of my family now and I want them to know that.”
