ADI Jerusalem and ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran were alight with activity this Chanukkah, bringing fun and joy to residents with diverse, creative activities that kept everyone smiling and happy for the full eight days.
The impressive array of switch-operated electric menorahs created by ADI Jerusalem staff enabled residents to take part in the candle-lighting ceremonies, maximizing their abilities and independence.
With home-made greeting cards prepared in their arts and crafts lessons and forwarded to Hadassah Hospital’s corona ward, residents of ADI Jerusalem brought the light and joy of Chanukkah to doctors, nurses and patients, playing an inclusive role and pro-actively contributing their part to the welfare of people dealing with COVID-19 .
Taking advantage of the holiday to express their gratitude for the attention and care of the past nine months, residents created Chanukkah-themed signs and decorations and hung them with ADI at the center’s MDA post, thanking volunteers for their dedicated care over the past nine months and wishing them a happy holiday.
Outdoors, ADI Jerusalem residents enjoyed a Chanukkah concert with the Uri Gold band, participating from behind the specially constructed plastic partition that safeguards our immunocompromised residents from infection. MK Michael Malkieli joined the celebration, visibly moved by his meeting with residents, especially his short conversation via an alternate communication device with one of ADI’s older students.
On the sixth night of Chanukkah, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon honored ADI Jerusalem with his presence, lighting the Chanukkiah and leading staff and residents in traditional Chanukkah songs.
Additional activities during the week of Chanukkah included, a virtual party with parents and families via ZOOM, a socially-distanced party with volunteers on the roof and the annual Chanukkah happening with loads of music, dancing, fun and refreshments.
Further south, at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran, Nation Service volunteers kept residents busy with special recreational activities that included latkes making, doughnuts and plenty of arts and crafts activities such as building menorahs and creating sensory Chanukkah pictures to hang up in the residences and school.
A musical theatrical show in the village’s outdoor, accessible amphitheater provided entertainment for all, as did the Chanukkah happening celebrating the roll-out of the village’s new name: ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran.
On the final night of Channukah, President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin, visited the Negev village, touring the premises and the new rehabilitation hospital presently under construction before joining staff, residents and volunteers in lighting the final candle.
Enthused and inspired by everyone he met and all he saw, President Rivlin went on to comment, “During my visit here today, you all gave me so much hope, so much love, and so much light. It is a light that will provide me with inspiration and strength, not for a day or two, but for many days to come . . . what a wonderful torch you have lit here . . . It is a lighthouse of giving, a lighthouse of love, a lighthouse of faith. . . Thank you for establishing the ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran rehabilitative village, this precious light which guides us all.”
