Following the bombings and war in the north of the country, more than a million civilians, Jews, Arabs and Christians left their homes and came to look for shelter in the center and south of the country, away from the rockets and missiles. Those who could afford it took advantage of the summer vacation and went to hotels or even abroad.  Some others were lucky to be hosted by their families in the south. However, a lot of the evacuees didn't find solutions.

Hadassah Neurim, the youth village on the Beit Yannai beach is now in the middle of summer vacation, but the staff and village joined the effort to help the people in the north as part of a joined operation organized by the Jewish Agency, the Supersol chain and the Maariv newspaper. The village opened its gates to tens of families and hundreds of children from the northern cities under attack and 230 new immigrant kids from absorption centers in Safed and Ayelet Hashahar were transferred  from the bombed north to the peaceful green areas of the village. Tens of other northern families arrived at the village on their own and they all enjoy a variety of summer activities that the village has organized for them.

The village is situated on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and it has all the facilities needed for a pleasant stay and entertainment, such as dormitories, convention facilities, green lawn, laundry services, swimming pool, a horseback riding ranch, soccer, basketball and tennis fields, a large gym and a brand new and modern athletic track, and especially delicious food.

Everything is open for the kids and their parents in order to make their welcome stay at the village as comfortable as possible. The activities also include daily trips outside the village to the Safari in Ramat Gan, Superland and other attractions. Last week Bank Leumi invited all the guests to the Water Park in Shefayim where presents and refreshments were given to the children as well as a warm welcome.

Three young Ethiopian immigrant children took part in a morning talk show on T.V. speaking about their experiences from the stay in the village.
 
Yossi, 12 years old, from an absorption center in Safed says: "It is fun here, it's like a big summer camp. We are here together, all the friends from the absorption center and that's the most important. We take trips, go to the pool, play and we really feel good here, almost like at home, maybe a little better because there's no beach in Safed."
 
Shula, a 40 year old woman and a mother of two, left her husband in Shlomi on the Lebanese border and moved with her children to the village as soon as the bombings started. "As a graduate of the Hadassah Neurim boarding school, the moment the attacks began I knew where I would go. I took my kids, parted from my husband who has to continue working in the fire department and came here. I knew we will be safe here. We have everything we need; everybody is so nice and kind. Really, look around you! It could be heaven here if we didn't have to worry about the war."