A sanctuary of togetherness and hope

Feeling uplifted is a rarity in the days of this protracted war. But after an incredible day volunteering at Shuva Junction during a recent trip to Israel, I can honestly say that I feel uplifted.

Uplifted by the brave soldiers I spoke to, uplifted by the dedication of the volunteers I worked alongside, uplifted by the goodness that shines through all the surrounding evil, uplifted by the smiles despite all the challenges, and fundamentally uplifted by the spirit of Am Yisrael.

Moshav Shuva is located approximately six kilometres from the Gaza border but was miraculously spared the pogroms of October 7. The junction at the entry of the moshav quickly became the site of an emergency field hospital and evacuation point, and an improvised command centre for IDF operations.

Instinctively responding to a need for help, three brothers from the moshav brought a trestle table and urn down to the crossroad junction and started to serve coffee to the shell-shocked soldiers. Their initiative quickly grew to a large scale rest stop for soldiers to be nourished with hot meals.

577 days later, “Shuva Achim” serves thousands of meals every day and is an oasis of love and care, metres away from the bloody battlefields of the war.

Many come on their way in/out of Gaza, others are posted at bases nearby and all are grateful for a meal served with love, and a chat with someone who appreciates their service and cares for their welfare.

Kobi, Eliran and Dror Trabelisi are the founders and backbone of Shuva Achim – incorporating the name of their moshav and the meaning “return of the brothers”.

In English, it has been translated to “The Shuva Brothers”. Dror jokes that it makes it sound like he’s in a boy band, but he is glad of the publicity as the project is fully funded by donations and manned solely by volunteers.

The dedication and compassion of the Trabelisi brothers are at the core of this initiative, and Dror greeted me with a warm hug and a tremendous sense of purpose. Within five minutes of my arrival, I understood that there is also a strong legion of regular volunteers who are at the coalface of operations, ably supported by a constant flow of extra helpers.

My fellow volunteers included Christians from Amsterdam, an olah from Ukraine, a family from Ra’anana, tourists from Toronto and some young Israeli girls studying at a seminary – all united in wanting to help our brave soldiers fight for the existence of our Jewish homeland.

Many tourist groups who are visiting the Gaza envelope to bear witness to the atrocities of October 7 and show solidarity to their Israeli brothers and sisters, stop at Shuva Junction – it has become well known and offers a few moments of respite during a very confronting day.

I spent the day serving food and speaking to soldiers – from 18 years old to 60, religious/secular, high ranking/new recruits, women/men, a full range of skin colours and accents, from kibbutzim and big cities, and all so grateful for what they were receiving – whereas they are the ones who give so much.

It was also special chatting to the tourists. One lady from Chile couldn’t contain her grief after visiting the Nova site and car graveyard and we hugged and cried and shared prayers for a better tomorrow.

It was inspirational to witness the generosity of the regular volunteers. One lovely English lady offering massages was the mother of a lone soldier. The other therapist was a very religious woman who travels hours from Jerusalem to offer her expertise to soldiers requiring treatments. There was an older man who had served for decades in the Shabak and said that now his way of helping the security of Israel is by keeping the soldiers strong. One beautiful young woman worked tirelessly all day overseeing endless trays of food being served.

Throughout the day Dror was at the centre of the buzz – hugging every soldier and sharing his inspirational story with all the visitors.

Upbeat music was played all day, and the beauty of the green fields surrounding the junction was enhanced by the bright blue sky and soft breeze. There was a constant hum of animated Hebrew chatter.

Most of the soldiers are exhausted and frustrated. Some rushed in and took food to go, others sat and chatted. But all were so appreciative to enter a sanctuary of togetherness and hope, and be offered nourishment of their souls.

Politics and divisions are absent. The sense of unity, love of Israel and peoplehood are palpable.

Shuva Achim shines a light on the incredible spirit of Am Yisrael and is a beacon of tikvah for better times ahead.

When I left at the end of an incredibly uplifting day, I told Dror and the regular volunteers that I would be back in Israel in August but I hope to never see them there again because Please God the war will be over, and the hostages and the soldiers will be home drinking their own mother’s chicken soup. And Shuva Junction can go back to being a simple intersection of roads.

But the special spirit of being uplifted at Shuva Achim will be with me forever. Am Yisrael chai.

Atida Lipshatz is a board member of Zionism Victoria.