75-Year-Old Woman Finds Fulfillment in Gaza Envelope Service Year
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Keren Cohen, 75, and her husband Natanel completed a "year of service" in Israel's Gaza Envelope region, volunteering as "old Shin-Chinim" in Moshav Sde Avraham. The program, a joint effort by Beit Midrash Elul, the Joint, and the Jewish Agency, aims to support communities in the area. Cohen worked as a therapist in the Eshkol Regional Council, while her husband focused on historical documentation. She found the experience fulfilling, making her feel younger and more capable, and recommended it to others seeking meaningful engagement.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Keren Cohen, 75, completed a year of service in the Gaza Envelope region.
- She and her husband Natanel volunteered as part of a program for adults aged 55 and older.
- The initiative is a joint project of Beit Midrash Elul, the Joint, and the Jewish Agency.
- Cohen worked as a therapist in the Eshkol Regional Council, supporting local residents.
- She found the experience fulfilling, making her feel younger and more capable.
- Cohen recommended the program for those seeking meaningful contribution and personal growth.
Keren Cohen, a 75-year-old dance therapist and psychotherapist from Kiryat Tivon, has completed a "year of service" in the Gaza Envelope region, a program designed for adults aged 55 and older. Inspired by a radio broadcast, Cohen and her husband, Natanel, decided to join the initiative, which is a joint project of Beit Midrash Elul, the Joint, and the Jewish Agency. The couple, who have four children and twelve grandchildren, moved into a basic home in Moshav Sde Avraham in early September. Cohen described the experience as an adventure, noting that while they initially heard booms from Gaza, they grew accustomed to them. The local residents welcomed the volunteers warmly, expressing gratitude for their presence. Natanel worked in historical documentation and provided private consultations, while Keren joined the therapeutic team in the Eshkol Regional Council, working at the "Maayanot" therapeutic center and a center for the elderly. She observed that residents were trying to rebuild their lives despite lingering trauma. Cohen felt she became part of the community after six months, engaging in social activities like folk dancing, the gym, and occasional outings. She stated that the experience made her feel younger and that she was capable of more than she had realized. The main difficulty was missing her family, with whom they managed to meet only once a month. Cohen felt a sense of closure regarding a perceived lack in her Israeli experience, as she had immigrated at age 20 and was not drafted into the IDF, and her children had served. She highly recommends the program to others who can be flexible and adaptable, emphasizing the significant rewards of giving back, even at age 75.