The new pioneers of Nahal Oz
Aiming to strengthen one of the areas hit hardest during Operation Protective Edge, group of teenagers settle in Nahal Oz as part of pre-army program: 'We will cultivate the kibbutz'.
Following the end of Operation Protective Edge, during which the community suffered heavy barrages of rocket attacks and casualties, the process of strengthening the kibbutz was launched. One of the measures decided upon was the establishment of a co-ed pre-military program entitled "Meitarei Lakhish".
Delaying their military service by one year, the youths will stay in the kibbutz as part of the program and support the southern community with a variety of volunteer work and community involvement.
"It's a feeling of being a messenger to the society," said Adi Kaminitz (17). "I feel as if we are on our way to cultivate the kibbutz and rehabilitate it after everything it went through. We are going to volunteer and learn about the land, Judaism, philosophy and other fields. I have some concerns about the security situation, since the kibbutz is located less than a mile away from Gaza, but I believe it will be ok."
During their hike this morning, the teenagers stopped at observation points along the border with the Gaza Strip, and received explanations from their counselors regarding their neighbors living across the fence.
Seventeen-year-old Natalie Askiv is also a bit anxious about the security situation, but says that the feeling of being on a mission gives her motivation. "We're brave and we can deal with everything. We're going to learn and develop ourselves on a personal level, and are also going to help the kibbutz that suffered heavy damage during the operation – we will develop it and help as much as possible so that it will be able to continue and exist."
The director of "Meitarei Lakhish", Yaniv Mezuman, explained that the program was founded by the direct order of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, and that its establishment was given the final seal of approval after the visit of Amikam Svirsky, head of the Defense Ministry's diplomatic-security bureau, to the kibbutz.
"The program will include 25 young members, and the following year will include 45," Mezuman added. "The motivation for the program was born out of the crisis that Nahal Oz had faced. We are currently conducting final acceptance tests for the program. Some students even delayed their conscription into elite units so that they could join.
"We have before us a true, Zionist mission. We have an opportunity to make a big impact on the lives of residents and on the area in general," Svirski said.
