‘No rockets in Australia!’
31 Israeli teenagers and their families from two communities in the Gaza envelope found an unexpected haven halfway across the world.
In the wake of the October 7 attacks and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a group of 31 Israeli teenagers and their families from two communities in the Gaza envelope found an unexpected haven halfway across the world.
Their destination: Australia, where they embarked on a clandestine journey of healing, connection, and momentary peace.
The Birth of K2A
The initiative, dubbed K2A (Kfar/Kibbutz to Australia), brought together young people from two distinct communities – the religious moshav Kfar Maimon and the secular kibbutz Nir Itzhak.
Both communities have been profoundly affected by the conflict, with residents evacuated and dispersed across Israel in the aftermath of the attacks.
Simona Weinstein, one of the organisers behind K2A, recounts how the project came to fruition.
“I got a call 12 weeks ago from Israel, from a friend of mine who was living in Australia 25 years ago, Chasida Pinchuk, and she works as a psychologist in the Gaza envelope.
And she said, ‘Simona, you’ve got to bring kids to Australia. They need a break from the rockets. They need a break from the noises of war.'”
What started as a simple phone call soon blossomed into a community-wide effort.
Weinstein explains, “Somewhere around 500 people are involved in this project, the organisation, the networks, the schools, the kids, the donors, the volunteers, the host families, the parents of the kids, the kids themselves, everybody that has been a part of it.”
A Break from Conflict
For the participants, the trip offered a much-needed respite from the constant reminders of conflict back home.
Oriyah Cohen, from Kfar Maimon, describes the atmosphere they left behind.
“Since [we came back to Kfar Maimon] three months ago, the atmosphere is a war atmosphere. There we heard all the airplanes, the bombers, everything that happened in Gaza”, he said.
His wife, Meital Cohen, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome they received in Australia, saying “Ten days of peace and quiet and a good kehilla yehudit [Jewish community]. They welcomed us with love and open arms, and they’ve spoiled us. Nice, nice people.”
For the younger participants, the trip provided an opportunity to experience life free from the constant threat of rocket attacks.
Assaf Botbol, a teenager from Kibbutz Nir Itzhak, reflects on the stark contrast.
“It’s very calm because, like, a lot of things happened in Israel. And [here, we] are very far from it. So it’s like, we’ve come and it’s fun, like to be in a new country and all of this. And no rockets anywhere! Yeah, no rockets in Australia” he said.
Bridging Divides
The visit was not just about escaping the tensions of home, but also about forging new connections and bridging divides within the Israeli community itself.
Despite living only 20 minutes apart in Israel, many of the participants from the religious Kfar Maimon and the secular Nir Itzhak had never met before this trip.
Assaf Botbol said, “I think it was okay, both of the sides respect the other side. Because we are living very close to each other, like, 20 minutes’ drive, and we didn’t know each other, and that’s crazy. So, I like it a lot to meet them and to see how they live. Yeah, it’s very interesting.”
This unexpected bonding between the religious and secular communities offers a glimmer of hope for healing the divisions within Israeli society.
Weinstein sees this as a potential template for future reconciliation, suggesting “The idea was to be somewhat of a template upon which we could continue to work in this way and combine the different parts of Israel that are so fractured at the moment.”
Australian Experiences
The itinerary for the visitors was packed with quintessentially Australian experiences, designed to create lasting memories and provide a complete break from their usual routines.
As Weinstein recounts in her farewell speech, “We’ve covered over 1200 kilometres. You’ve painted, learnt Aussie rules, and davened mincha [prayed the afternoon service] at Ballarat shule. You found gold, surfed trees, and visited giant ferns on steam trains. You’ve even tried vegemite and lamingtons.”
For many of the teens, it was their first time experiencing life without the constant threat of rocket attacks.
Nimrod Fine, a 15-year-old from Kibbutz Nir Itzhak, describes the trip as “A bit of new scenery, it’s cool, really fun to see new people and new places. It’s really fun. It’s like taking time to step down from all the rockets and missiles of our normal day.”
Impact on the Community
The impact of the trip extended beyond the visitors themselves, touching the lives of the host families and the broader Melbourne Jewish community.
The experience of welcoming these families and hearing their stories firsthand has strengthened the bonds between the Australian Jewish community and Israel.
One parent from Kibbutz Nir Itzhak, Hanan Balachshan, expressed his gratitude.
“I want to thank everyone that was part of this program. You did very good things for these kids, and I hope this connection and relationship between us [will] be continued” he said.
The visit also provided an opportunity for some much-needed family bonding time.
Balachshan explains why he decided to join the trip with one of his children.
“I want him to have a little bit fun and a relaxed time. After all we have been through, I thought it would be nice to do it with him, father and child. We didn’t have a lot of time after [October 7] to be just me and him. So I thought it could be very, very good for us”, he said.
Looking to the Future
Despite the joy and respite found in Australia, the reality of the situation back home was never far from the participants’ minds.
Many, like Oriyah Cohen, expressed their unwavering commitment to Israel, saying, “We love Israel, and we will never leave Israel. We will go back and we will stay.”
As the visit came to an end, Weinstein’s farewell speech captured the essence of what K2A had achieved.
“Yes, K2A transcends boundaries. You have brought our community together. Beyond politics, religious affiliations and synagogue memberships. Just like the kfarim have connected, so has Melbourne.”
The impact of this visit extends far beyond the ten days spent in Australia.
It has created lasting connections, both between the Israeli participants and with their Australian hosts.
More importantly, it has provided a model for how communities can come together in times of crisis, offering support and respite to those in need.
As the Israeli teens and their families returned home, they carry with them not just memories of kangaroos and koalas, but a renewed sense of hope and connection.
In Weinstein’s words, “Israelis, take this air back to your homes and infuse the weary, that they can have hope too.”
As Israel continues to grapple with the aftermath of October 7 and the ongoing conflict, initiatives like these offer a beacon of hope and a template for healing for communities, not just individuals.
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