Israel Launches 'Heart with Reservists' Fair Series to Support Businesses

A series of "Heart with Reservists" fairs, organized by Channel 12 News, is set to launch this week, beginning in Jaffa Port. The first fair will run from Tuesday, September 8th, to Thursday, September 10th, from 2 PM to 11 PM. This initiative follows the success of a previous "Heart with the North" fair, which attracted approximately 40,000 visitors.

The "Heart with Reservists" series aims to support businesses owned by military reservists, their spouses, and career military personnel and their partners. The fairs will take place in four locations across Israel throughout September: Jaffa Port (September 8-10), Safra Square in Jerusalem (September 16-18), Romema Arena in Haifa (September 22-24), and Cinema City in Be'er Sheva (September 29-October 1).

The goal of these events is to bolster "blue and white" (Israeli-made) businesses and foster connections between the public and those who have temporarily left their civilian lives to serve the country. The initiative seeks to provide economic support and recognition for reservists.

One participant, Yair Boaron, a combat reservist who has served over 380 days, will be showcasing his business at the Jaffa fair. Boaron, a product designer, explained that his business was born out of his reserve duty. He shared that after October 7th, his children began experiencing sleep difficulties and emotional distress due to his frequent absences. To help them cope, he created a world of characters representing different emotions, which he has since turned into products like t-shirts and stickers.

Boaron also spoke about the financial challenges he has faced. Originally a designer of medical products, his reserve service left him with insufficient time for his projects, leading to financial losses as clients moved on. He expressed his ongoing struggle with livelihood, stating, "I am still feeling the difficulty in making a living."