Orphanage
You may have received an email chain letter talking about the Palestinian orphanages currently threatened to be closed by Israel. I just had the opportunity to witness first-hand the tragedy I had read about back in the states yet never really internalized. Me and a few friends spent a night sleeping over in the Hebron Orphanage as a sign of solidarity with the children’s plight and the orphanage’s struggle to remain open.
In Hebron there are currently 2 orphanages threatened to be closed by Israel. Israel maintains that the Islamic Charitable Society which runs the orphanages are a front for Hamas, and appeals to the Israeli high court on the ICS’ behalf have been unsuccessful and futile. ICS’ problems defending these orphan’s home are compounded by IDF’s claim that the case is terror-related and therefore exempt from allowing the defense to see Israel’s “classified evidence” supporting their claims. ICS is the first time Israel has gone after an entire organization. Not only are the orphanages threatened for closure, but IDF soldiers have raided and destroyed the local businesses the charity runs to help raise funds for the orphanages: their bakery looks like a bomb went off in the oven, and the sewing workshop and local warehouse where goods from foreign donors are stored are completely cleaned out. To add insult to injury, during our tour of these areas our guide told us that Israel recently threw all of the materials they raided—clothes, sewing machines, utensils, chairs, desks, basically everything that sustained over 600 girl’s livelihoods— in a nearby dumpster.
The orphanages are home to local children who have lost either one or both parents and for financial reasons their extended family is unable to take care of them. ICS offers them a home, an education and (until Israeli raids) a form of employment. In light of the recent raids and the threat (inevitable?) of closure of the schools, local Christian Peacemaker Teams CPT are organizing international volunteers to sleep over in the orphanage. That way, should Israeli soldiers come mid-night to weld the doors of the school shut there will be witnesses, documentation and a form of non-violent resistance. Personally, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a night than to show solidarity for these children. My roommate, myself, and two of our friends grabbed a shared taxi to Hebron where we met up with CPT and two ISM members. We got a tour of the raided and destroyed properties before settling into the orphanage. Mom, you can breath deep, because the night was uneventful minus the rock-hard bed I slept on. It consisted of eating unbelievable amounts of pita, laughing and getting to know one another. We were briefed on the situation and responses should the soldiers come; however, they didn’t expect them to come because they are currently closing some other ICS schools in nearby villages. They expect the soldiers to come in the next 2 weeks.
The situation is really unbelievable. The orphanages are not fronts for terrorist organizations. They are the only home a lot of these children have. Having lost a parent, or both parents, these children have no safety or food beyond these buildings. They’ve had to learn how to call the rock-hard beds and their small locker for their belongings “home”. It has become a safe-haven from the streets and from fear. But now it is back to fear and potentially having their home taken away from them for a second time. As a Christian I know that we are called to protect and fight for the widow and the orphan. These children are helpless and have been dealt a life-situation that no one should be faced with. I pray that you’ll take the time to just become aware, or even just say a prayer on their behalf. Everyone deserves a place to call home, to feel loved and not be afraid.
