Editor’s Note – While in Israel as part of the ISRAEL MISSION this week, Sara Rosenbaum visited the town of Shlomi that suffered Hezbollah rocket attacks during the War and most of the residents evacuated. Our Federation is assisting Shlomi as part of Rebuild Israel -Jewish Federation's system-wide, multi-year framework to support Israel’s recovery and help Israeli society flourish in the aftermath of October 7 and two years of war. Shlomi—a northern Israeli town only a few kilometers from Lebanon, was deeply affected by war. We are working with our trusted partners - The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Our Federation has committed to a two-year allocation of $200,000 per year to help in the rebuild. This is her reflection on her visit.
By Sara Rosenbaum, Chief Philanthropy Officer
Shlomi, a community in Northern Israel, is on the Lebanon border with a population of just about 8, 500, and is the true spirit of Israel resilience and hope.
Since March 2025 more than 95% of the community has returned from where they were evacuated to throughout Israel after Oct 7. While they were scattered all over the country, the town leaders stayed in regular contact with their community members, allowing for an easier transition back home. Mayor Gabi Naaman and others on his team including the JDC project manager Erez Kriyzler stayed to ensure the community could rebuild.
The Mayor looks at some of the special Richmond and Virginia gifts from Sara Rosenbaum
My morning started at Nechalim School, a school of about 100 students, ages 6-21, who are on the autism spectrum. At this school, families have moved to Shlomi to enroll their children as no other program like it exists in the North, The program personalizes lessons and wants the best for these kids who need so much support.
Thanks to our community the school has been able to install safe rooms in every classroom. This is not intended to protect everyone from missiles, but these are special rooms (padded) for these students - some whom can be violent and need a safe place to calm down or a place for the teacher to be able to take them.
The school continues, to upgrade other security features. All classroom doors and gates are locked with keys and in case of an emergency, slow to open; electronic upgrades would be welcome.
The school has secured funding from the St. Louis Federation to build a commercial kitchen that will teach life skills. And the school hopes to turn this into a working cafe that would welcome community and in turn encourage more to come to Shlomi and build and drive more for this town.
Everyone I met told me how much potential Shlomi saw 10 years ago but the last two years changed everything.
Businesses had to be built as if they were brand new. Our dollars are now supporting a variety of business including 16 new ones.
I met a wonderful owner of a local pizza place - one of only 2 restaurants.
He spoke about how he’s building community. When most of the community residents evacuated to larger cities they had access to more - and he wants that for Shlomi. He wants his community to have everything they want and need. It’s not just “if you build it they will come” but a marketing need. Telling the community and others that Shlomi is there.
Many residents from Shlomi are back but the government wants more people to come. The goal is 100,000 in the whole north in 10 years. There’s room for growth, but it’s not just about people but what they need from their community. Places to gather, places to shop, good schools, and their safety.
Erez, JDC Project Manager on the ground, and Elkana, the town’s Director of Development and partnerships, spoke about our partnership, and also the support they are receiving from outside. As the government funds end, they are looking for other partners to help fill the gaps and want to work with anyone who wants to work with them.
Mayor Gabi Naaman, who has been mayor for 28 years and knows everyone and where they were during the war, is determined to meet the new goals of bringing the town he loves. He wants to try the all communities idea, help them build from the bottom up and not wait for the government to make up their minds. The mayor who did not evacuate and wants us all to come, visit, and see their resiliency!
I ended the day at the ORT School, which has 400 students from Shlomi doing advance work but in need of new and creative ways to learn.
Since the war has changed their needs and their desire for learning, music curriculum and extracurriculars would give them new tools and encourage new ways of studying.
By the way, did you know Shlomi is on the beach? I didn’t! They want everyone to know and be the new go-to destination for us all!
Your dollars are at work helping the residents of Shlomi get their lives back!
Look for more updates on Shlomi in the coming months.
Below, the Mayor with several community leaders near a school several months ago.
