#assaf

assaf henigsberg near his self portrait 

Deceased Gaza hostage Assaf Hamami returned to Israel | The Jerusalem PostJerusalem Post/Israel News Described as a “great friend who cared for his soldiers and whose love will live on forever,” Hammami was killed on the morning of October 7 with fellow soldiers Tomer Ahimas and Kiril Brodsky. Col. Asaf Hamami(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)ByANOUK CARTER-DORFNOVEMBER 3, 2025 07:59Updated:…

Megiddo’s history reaches far back into the distant past, having been a continuous settlement down through thousands of years, from Neolithic times through to Persian occupation. #TelMegiddo #Armageddon #IsraelFinkelstein

David and I are once again in Israel, the “Beautiful Land,” as the prophet Daniel described it. A Long and Complex Story Megiddo’s history reaches far back into the distant past, having been a continuous settlement down through thousands of years, from Neolithic times to the Persian occupation. A timeline of Megiddo’s occupation Then, sometime between the fifth and third centuries BCE, this…

Dear friends and supporters,

Over the past several months, we have shared the harrowing reality of the humanitarian crisis faced by the refugee and asylum seeker community in Israel throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, nearly a year into the crisis, we would like to share with you the stories and the voices of the vulnerable individuals and groups supported by the Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel (ASSAF) through this adverse year.

We will let the following stories speak for themselves. All names below are aliases.

Gennet is a single mother of four. Her partner left the family after the youngest child was born, leaving her with nothing. She and her son have encountered acute medical issues on top of mental and financial hardships, while adjusting to the new reality.

Gennet cried for weeks. She could not sleep. Her Israeli neighbors did not know how to help her. Then she heard about ASSAF.

Gennet came to us and told us everything. Our team might have been the first people who heard about her traumatic experiences: serial rape, the death of her infant and her impossible physical conditions. The more she shared, the more felt her shoulders unburden. 

She is now able to focus on her son’s recovery, and her personal health, while we assist her in taking care of the rest. First, we facilitated medical care for Gennet through our partner organizations. Then, we delivered food and financial aid for her to make her rent payments. ASSAF is now fighting for Gennet to be recognized as a resident-in-need by the social services in her city. Accompanied by ASSAF, she can once again sleep at night.

Sisay is an asylum seeker from Eritrea. He is experiencing homelessness and suffers from mental health issues. Many years of untreated trauma from his country along with his refugee journey and the harsh circumstance of life as an asylum seeker with no rights or security led him to living on the street.

A kind member of the asylum seeker community took him in. He brought him to a mental health clinic, and from there to a holistic rehabilitation process at ASSAF. Lately, due to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, Sisay's friend has encountered financial hardship himself, and is no longer able to support him.

Encouraged by the meaningful process he went through in the past months, Sisay is determined to stay off the streets and to find appropriate employment and accommodation. We have established contact with a shelter and are now working towards finding rehabilitative employment for Sisay. Meanwhile, we continue to do our best to help him with transportation and deliveries of the medicine that gives him hope for a better future.

At the beginning of the third lockdown at the end of December 2020, the teens at the ASSAF Youth Club were already exhausted by this difficult school year. Some held onto learning from home, dealing with conditions of noise and crowdedness. Others got their nights and days mixed up, sleeping through the day, walking around at night. They were tired, lonely and they were losing hope. 

We knew we could not abandon them when the third lockdown was announced. We kept in touch and made sure that no one has to face their difficulties alone. We provided them with the things they needed, such as electronic equipment to make learning from home possible.

We engaged them in various activities in school and at home; puzzles and games on mobile apps, a TikTok dance challenge and film screenings; we maintained the spirit of solidarity, friendship and humor in the group, providing comfort and refuge from the challenges of everyday life. After gradually returning to meetings at the Club, we still see how tired and moody they are, but our actions throughout this period bring about a strong sense of continuity, and the teens do feel more comfortable, willing to go on.

We wish you all a safe return to normalcy.