Beer and Heartache: An Emotional Night Marking Two Years with Gaza Border Residents

Video: The closing party of the “L'Gima Shel Shikma” project at Green Pub, Kibbutz Nir Am / Editing: Gilad Manheim

Two years ago, we set out on a journey whose destination we did not know, an emotional journey among the communities evacuated from the Gaza border area, the “L'Gima Shel Shikma” journey.

It began modestly, with an idea that came up in the Walla editorial room, to stand with the various communities in the Gaza border towns through activities centered on their pubs. CBC Israel gave the idea its blessing, and it was branded under the title “L'Gima Shel Shikma.” Why Shikma? Named after the craft beer whose roots are dug deep into the soil of the Negev, much like the roots of the residents of the cities, kibbutzim and moshavim to whom all of us were anxiously looking on that Saturday that changed their lives as individuals and as communities.

Before everything turned upside down, we went out on the project with the hope of doing good, helping reconnect the community through activities at the pubs, but even we could not imagine what path we would take... In Be’eri, Sderot, Or HaNer, Netiv HaAsara, the commercial center of Mavki’im, south of Ashkelon, in Nir Am and more. The first meetings with the residents were held in the hotels to which they had been evacuated. For example, we met the residents of Nir Am at the Herods Hotel in Tel Aviv, while they still did not know when they would return to their kibbutz, and were debating whether to register the children in schools in the center of the country for the next school year.

A little over a year ago they returned, and then we entered the Green Pub for the first time, the largest regional pub. The silence was mesmerizing, the beautiful garden had gone wild, thorns had sprung up among the ornamental bushes. Spider webs hung over the drink crates, empty bottles from the party held there on October 6, which ended only in the early morning hours of the following day, still stood on the tables, a snapshot of the last moment of joy before everything changed.

Last week we returned there again, after the place had already reopened more than a year earlier, cleaned, renovated and equipped with an upgraded sound system. The staff had gathered again and, most importantly, the joy of life so characteristic of the Gaza border residents had returned to their hearts. Shikma beer, which has already become a symbol for the region’s residents, was enjoyed, and hamburgers, prepared by the wonderful team at 12-B, made sure we would not be drinking on an empty stomach.

The band warmed up on stage, but most important was the heart that expanded at the sight of those gathered, the sight of a community coming together again in so many ways.

There are many people to thank, among them 12B, the meat eatery that treated everyone to hamburgers, and the band “Karaoke Live,” which brought the fun and gave everyone the songs they love most.

If there is one thing that has astonished us לאורך the two-year journey, it is the spirit of volunteering among Israelis. But on a personal note, I will say only this, thank you, residents of the western Negev, thank you for giving us the privilege of being a small part of your journey home. Thanks to you, I am a better Israeli today, more convinced that things will still be good for all of us in this place. Thanks to you, I too had the privilege of taking a sip of Shikma.