Returning only to a Safe Metula

Metula – Israel’s northernmost community, the first line of defense in the north. A vibrant, thriving community rich in values. Generations of farmers, educators, security personnel, and intellectuals have grown up here. Since the outbreak of the war, Metula’s residents have been displaced from their homes. Over 600 families were evacuated, 70% of the houses were bombed or damaged due to neglect, public buildings were destroyed, schools were closed, and the community was scattered across temporary residences throughout the country. For over a year and four months, the town has remained empty and damaged, with residents living in uncertainty about the future – and most importantly, without a sense of security at home. On March 1st, per government decision, the process of returning residents home will begin. This return cannot be to a damaged and ruined place. How can children go back to educational institutions that no longer exist? How can a community be rebuilt when there are no public spaces to bring people together? Where do you return to when there is no home? How can people return without a basic sense of security in the face of the enemy? The security situation remains complex, and we must ensure a gradual and safe return for families and children. Most importantly, Metula must be given the opportunity to prepare and fortify itself before families come back. The children of Metula – our most precious resource. Over the past year, they have had to transition between multiple educational institutions, each move creating new challenges in adjustment and organization. Now, they are expected to return to a place that is neither safe nor ready for them. Given the current circumstances, many parents are choosing not to return just yet, wishing to avoid uprooting their children from their current schools once again. Most will wait until the end of the school year to provide their children with some sense of security and stability. That’s why we are launching an emergency campaign to give Metula the time to restore its security! Our goal is to provide support for families so they can remain in their temporary housing until summer. In the meantime, schools will be rebuilt, clinics and public spaces will be restored, and the entire community will be able to regain its sense of safety and stability. Metula is Israel’s northern border, but it is a home for us all. Let’s bring the heart back to Metula – rebuild, embrace, and ensure a real and safe return home. Donations are tax-deductible.