Building bridges

We, the students of the Galil Elyon Pre-Military leadership Academy, Afikim branch, initiated the project “Building bridges,” which brings us together with Holocaust survivors living in the Jordan Valley and Lower Galilee. Over the past several months, we have been meeting with the survivors one-on-one, building relationships rooted in genuine listening and mutual understanding, and learning their life stories in depth. From each encounter, we work together to choose a meaningful moment from the survivor’s life that insights their revival and transform it into a personal piece that will be presented in an exhibition and ceremony marking the national Holocaust Remembrance Day. Through this intergenerational dialogue, we strengthen our sense of identity and belonging to this land. We deepen our understanding of the history of our people and our state, and we shape a committed Israeli–Jewish identity grounded in active civic responsibility. These personal connections cultivate within us values of respect, empathy, and compassion, while increasing our awareness of the challenges Holocaust survivors in Israel continue to face today. We believe that conversation creates connection—and that connection becomes a bridge to renewal and a foundation for our lives here in the Land of Israel. The closing event will serve as an opportunity to raise broader public awareness and to encourage further community initiatives in the future. Donations to the project will help us hold this event in the most meaningful and dignified way possible.