When Rabbi Joe Wolfson learned shortly after October 7 that tens of thousands of evacuees from Israel’s southern and northern regions would be relocating to hundreds of hotels in his city of Tel Aviv, he immediately rallied his community to help them.

Rabbi Wolfson and his wife Corinne run Tel Aviv’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC TLV ), a young professional community near Dizengoff Street composed of singles in their 20’s and 30’s, and young families. A division of the Orthodox Union, JLIC creates warm communities for North American and Israeli students and young professionals, and offers a religious framework that includes Torah study, halachic and spiritual guidance from a resident rabbinic couple, Shabbat and holiday meals, and regular social events, shiurim, holiday celebrations, and shabbatons.

“While most other JLICs are affiliated with universities and are largely located on college campuses, JLIC TLV is the first community that has nothing to do with a university,” says Rabbi Wolfson, who launched the Tel Aviv chapter with Corinne in 2022. “Originally we had envisioned that this branch would help Olim to acclimate, but its focus has broadened tremendously. We have around 450 active members, and about 20 percent of them were born in Israel.”

JLIC TLV’s regular programs include weekly shiruim, as well as Shabbat and holiday initiatives like tishes, meal match-ups, and get-togethers in the park. Rabbi Wolfson, who also volunteers as the community’s rabbi at a local shul, says JLIC TLV accords significant value to connecting with and supporting the community at large.

“JLIC is part of a greater city, and there are multiple ways to connect to your neighborhood,” he says. “One of them is being a good neighbor and helping people in need. For example, pre-war, we did this through forging connections with elderly Shoah survivors, and working in a local homeless shelter. It is very much two-directional. We benefit just as much as the recipients do.”

Shortly after evacuees from the south and north arrived in Tel Aviv in October 2023, teams of JLIC TLV members visited various hotels to get a sense of how they might be able to help. For the first six weeks, Rabbi Wolfson says, the aid was strictly humanitarian, and JLIC TLV members cooked over 700 meals for evacuees across five hotels.

After the evacuees’ basic needs were met, JLIC TLV got to work supporting them in other important ways, including creating a work-match website for those who had lost their jobs due to relocation, and pairing evacuee families with JLIC TLV members who could befriend them and guide them around the community.

Since October 7, JLIC TLV has run over 150 weekly activities for evacuee children in 24 hotels, including carnivals, theme-park outings, bringing ice cream trucks to the hotels, and arts and crafts activities.

JLIC TLV member Raquel B. has found volunteering with JLIC particularly fulfilling.

“On October 7, everyone was just looking for things they could do to help,” says the digital brand manager and content creator. “My friends and I ran weekly children’s activities like Chanukah and Purim carnivals, and also acquired a number of items that evacuees requested, like haggadot for Pesach. JLIC TLV was so kind, they covered the costs of all of our supplies. Incredibly, Rabbi Wolfson found donors who were willing to sponsor all of the activities, including large-scale ones.”

Among the hotels where JLIC TLV lent support was Herods, where the residents of Kibbutz Nir Am had temporarily relocated. Situated less than a kilometer from Sderot, Nir Am is the closest kibbutz to Gaza. On October 7, electricity to the kibbutz was knocked out by rockets. Thanks to the quick thinking of security coordinator Inbal Lieberman, who decided not to restore the power, the kibbutz’s security gate remained disabled, preventing terrorists from gaining entry. Inbal and her 12-member security team heroically fought terrorists for over three hours until Tzahal arrived.

Through regular interactions with the children of Nir Am at Herods, JLIC TLV members began to form relationships with the families.

“When our relationship began a year ago, it was right around Parashat Lech Lecha, where Avraham and Sara are the embodiment of hachnasat orchim,” reflects Rabbi Wolfson. “It was very powerful that this coincided with when we began to form connections with the evacuee families.”

He adds, “We always started all of our programming with the evacuated communities by saying, ‘We don’t consider this chessed, or tzedakah. This is hachnasat orchim. You are guests in our city, and we'd love to host you, like anyone else. The only thing that we ask from you is that when it's good for you, you invite us back to your community.’”

In mid-August, Nir Am members were told they would be returning to the kibbutz in about 10 days’ time. In preparation, JLIC TLV sourced 300 red roses for Nir Am’s children to give as thanks to each hotel staff member, and then hosted a beautiful farewell party, attended by 250 kibbutz members. Rabbi Wolfson raised funds for the event, and JLIC TLV members used their skills to run what he calls “an incredible final send-off” at the hotel shortly before their departure.

“Our JLIC volunteers organized everything, and it was absolutely amazing,” says Raquel B. “We  ordered all of the food, drinks, and supplies. At the party, we featured photos with memories of our time together. The people of Nir Am were so grateful and are just so lovely.

Eyal Massad, his wife Efrat, and their young daughters Ofir and Adva were among the Nir Am members who attended the goodbye party. Massad says it was on a scale beyond what anyone could have imagined.

“We thought it was going to be a very small party, but JLIC TLV elevated it to something very special,” he says. “There really aren’t words to describe what they did for this event. People were so surprised, and it was exciting to see the connections that were forged at the party. It was very meaningful.”

Rabbi Wolfson says that both communities were eager to continue their relationship, even once the evacuees returned home. “We realized we shouldn't be thinking about this as a one-off, but rather as an ongoing friendship in which each community is able to give something to the other, so that something good comes out of this horrible period.”

At the end of August, Nir Am members moved back to their kibbutz. For volunteers like Raquel B., it was comforting to know that they were exchanging wishes of l’hitraot (see you again) rather than saying goodbye.

“It’s been very meaningful to work with JLIC TLV for over 400 days, and also to finally see the Nir Am community return home,” she says. “Bonding with the kids and their parents was amazing, and I’m glad we are able to continue seeing them regularly. We’ve become very close.”

After a period of settling in, the kibbutz invited JLIC TLV to a party celebrating their relationship on Chol Hamoed Sukkot. About 400 people from both communities enjoyed a full day of activities that included carnival games, prizes, inflatables, music, a barbecue, and a bonfire.

“Nir Am hosted us in the most gracious, warm way imaginable,” says Shira Greenspan, an award-winning educator, author, and artist from Modi’in. “The day was just beautiful and so uplifting. The celebration enabled the Nir Am community, especially the kids, to build new memories and positive associations of being together and welcoming people to their kibbutz.”

One of the projects that the communities launched that day was mural painting on the kibbutz’s many megunioyot (concrete shelters.) Greenspan was part of a team of three talented artists enlisted by JLIC TLV to create the mural designs and oversee the project. She says she became involved out of her desire to help others, and also to put a positive spin on the shelters, which connote danger and negative associations for many children.

The mural she designed is on a megunit (shelter) where the kibbutz children meet daily to board buses to school. In addition to creating the vision — each wall features an element of the kibbutz along with a “portal” overlooking another part of Israel — Greenspan also guided the volunteers who participated in the activity.

"Each mural is beautiful and reflects the painters’ styles,” she says. “Over 100 people were involved in this initiative, and each volunteer came with such enthusiasm. While we were painting, there was a siren. In the midst of painting these meguniyot as a celebration of healing, it was a rude reminder that this war is not over. The people of Nir Am are still facing so much, which makes any opportunity that we can help that much more meaningful.”

Massad, who was one of the day's organizers, says the day will long be remembered as one that raised everyone’ spirits.

“To have the meguniyot painted with colorful designs really brought light to the kibbutz,” he notes. “Weeks later, people still stop me around the kibbutz to tell me how amazing that day was on Chol Hamoed Sukkot. And it’s just the beginning. We really want to further develop this relationship between our communities. My vision is that families will host the JLIC TLV community to stay over and that we will be close for many years to come. It has really been a privilege to get to know the JLIC TLV community.”

Rabbi Wolfson says that JLIC TLV and Nir Am are currently discussing future plans, including Chanukah parties, English lessons for Nir Am children taught by JLIC TLV members, meeting up for pizza in Ashkelon, and Nir Am families adopting lone soldiers from the JLIC TLV community.

JLIC Executive Director Rabbi Josh Ross is proud of the communities’ growing bond."In the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy, JLIC TLV and Kibbutz Nir Am have discovered something profound: true healing happens through connection. Our partnership isn't just about rebuilding communities, but about rebuilding hope, one friendship at a time.”

JLIC Israel builds communal and personal support for college students, graduate students, and young professionals (ages 18-35) who are making Aliyah or who choose to study for a degree in Israel. Additionally, JLIC offers summer and short-term Israel programs featuring professional internships, Torah study, volunteering, travel, and leadership training.

A JLIC Tel Aviv volunteer brings hope to Nir Am, transforming a shelter with each brushstroke during the partnership kickoff party

A JLIC Tel Aviv volunteer dives into shelter renovation, proving that making a difference starts with rolling up your sleeves and embracing the mess

Mission Accomplished: JLIC-TLV Rabbi Joe Wolfson stands proudly beside a freshly renovated shelter, a testament to community spirit and collective resilience in Nir Am

Kibbutz Nir Am community members transform a blank canvas into a vibrant butterfly, each colorful handprint telling a story of unity, creativity, and collective joy