"Please pray for the Peace of Israel" Psalm 122  [Chapter-13]

Volunteers provide heaps of food for Israeli soldiers longing for something
other than army food.

From Lemonade Stand to Oasis
Ordinary Israelis Donate Food, Time and Money to Make a Difference

               

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength."  (Isaiah 40:29–31)

Close to the Gaza border, where Israel is trying to end the constant rain of Hamas missiles and the threat of terrorist infiltrations through the tunnels, is a small town called Moshav Maslul. Doron Elbaz owns a small farm there that has become an oasis for Israeli soldiers on the way to the Gaza border. When Operation Protective Edge's ground offensive began, soldiers were passing Elbaz’ farm every day.  Some of those soldiers would never return home. Elbaz decided to open a small rest station for soldiers, offering them free homemade lemonade and a place to hang out in the shade.  To let them know about it, he posted an open invitation to IDF soldiers on Facebook,    

that post caught the attention of Israelis and donations began pouring in—everything from meat, vegetables, fruit and baked goods to clothing and toiletries.

One of the food stands on the Elbaz farm.

Because of the outpouring of support, love and gratitude for Israeli soldiers, that lemonade stand quickly became a massive humanitarian effort. It blossomed into a makeshift camp where soldiers can come to relax, eat fresh food, and even get a free massage, shave, and a haircut.

Soldiers get a massage at Elbaz's rest stop for people on the front.

                                                                                                                                                      

Even though the farm is in close range of Hamas rockets, hundreds of volunteers—chefs, business people and average Israelis—come to prepare 50,000 meals a day for soldiers—30,000 on site and 20,000 sent to troops and people in the field. Elbaz believes that about 50,000 people associated with the war effort come through the rest stop every day, including police, medics, and volunteers.

 

Doron Elbaz (right) speaks to a volunteer.

One of those volunteers is Rivka Naham, an elementary school administrator.  Her hometown has been heavily hit by Hamas rockets. “At the beginning of the war, I was really terrified of the sirens,” she said, explaining with tears in her eyes that she wanted to come to Elbaz’s farm to help in some way.  “I came with a friend.  We brought clothes for two days.  That was on Sunday.  What day is today?  I’m staying until the end.  If I’m not here, I don’t belong anywhere.  I have to be here to help,” she emphasized.  “I don’t want to go home.  Here you don’t feel scared because you’re doing something.”  (Times of Israel)

Soldiers take a few moments to enjoy the children.

This outpouring of support for Israeli soldiers stands in contrast to the cynical way in which Hamas has embraced death, deliberately placing Palestinian civilians in harm’s way, using them as human shields. Elbaz’ farm is just one effort being made by Israelis to help soldiers and other Israelis. There are dozens of rest stops and other humanitarian efforts to reach the elderly and vulnerable segments that are essentially trapped in their homes, cut off from food and medicine due to constant Hamas bombing.

Books of Psalms are made available at the Elbaz

farm to soldiers on their way to the Gaza border.