From Erika van Gelder, Vice president Lodge Hilleel, Amsterdam- and Senior Vice president B'nai B'rith Europe...

One of the most important activities of our lodge is to organize, once a year, one week's vacation, all expenses paid, for 20 young people from Israel, all traumatized victims of terrorism, of shelling in Sderot, or from socially disadvantaged families.
 

Hilleel Lodge, Amsterdam, has been cooperating closely with Hineni in Jerusalem for the last ten years to bring to the Netherlands each year a group of young disadvantaged Israelis, often traumatised victims of terrorism or shelling. The loving care of their Dutch hosts can prove to be a life-changing influence.
 
The Hineni Project
BB Lodge Hilleel, Amsterdam
 
The program started about ten years ago in cooperation with the Hineni Organization in Jerusalem. During the first few years we sponsored young victims of terrorist attacks, suffering from psychological and physical traumas. The age group was 18-25. They were selected in Israel in consultation with the various municipal departments of social welfare, private institutions, social workers and counselors. The selected group of 20 youths got to know each other through orientation meetings before they arrived. 
 
Upon arrival in Amsterdam, each youth was placed in the home of a volunteer BB family. The guests and one member of the "host" family, participated together in the week's program. The program included cultural excursions, outings in the nature, musical performances, entertainment, sport, Shabbat celebrations and much more. 
 
Many became friends for life with the family that received them and dared to sit on a bus again, or relax on a terrace. From among the hundreds of young people, several met their partners on this trip and now live a normal life.
 
After a few years, when the terrorist attacks got less frequent, we decided to help traumatized youth from Sderot. Their lives at home consisted of listening to the falling of rockets, the alarm sirens and running to the shelter several times a day.
 
Since last year we have been bringing over children of 16-18, from different children's homes in Israel. They have a wonderful time in Amsterdam making new friends and experiencing a "normal" family situation. They are chosen by the professionals of Hineni in Jerusalem. They prepare the kids for the trip and accompany them to Amsterdam.
 
After the trip we also cover the expenses of the follow-up program (social and psychological). This whole program is made possible by Dutch private donations, the effort of the BB "host" families and the many volunteer BB members who participate in the setting up of the program, raising funds, accompanying the kids during their stay and are doing all that with lots of tender loving care. In Israel this effort has been evaluated by professionals as a life changing program and it has the recognition of government officials, including that of ministers and of the President of the state of Israel.
 
This year we expect the group of 20 children to arrive on 4th September and we start the program with a barbecue with all the lodge members and all the children. 
 
As often said, the best way to attract new people to BB is to have worthwhile projects in which they would like to get actively involved. This project is such an example: since its start, we had many new members specifically wishing to participate in the project. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all BB members of the Hilleel lodge, Amsterdam who are involved in organizing this wonderful project and making it into such a success. I hope that lodges in other countries would want to do the same. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us.