Israel was in the midst of a coronavirus shutdown, but AMIT Kfar Blatt Youth Village was always open, offering a protective home for students who needed a safe place for the Pesach vacation during the difficult days of the pandemic.
While most of AMIT Kfar Blatt Youth Village’s students spent the holiday at home with their families – this year even longer due to the health crisis – there were many Kfar Blatt students who were unable to go home. For these students, their homes aren’t a place to return for their well-being and safety.
There were about 40 students who stayed at Kfar Blatt for the extended period, including the Pesach holiday. The Youth Village took all necessary safety precautions – stocking up on masks, disposable gloves, hand sanitizers, and digital thermometers – and kept in constant contact with the Ministry of Education. Students remained in small groups, avoiding interaction with peers or those outside the Village.
“It felt a bit strange to have to follow all of the social distancing rules while being at the Kfar,” said “Lili,” 18, from Bnei Brak, who has been living and studying at Kfar Blatt for three years and was among the students who remained at the Youth Village.
“We got used to it and managed to have a fun time,” she said. “The atmosphere at the Pesach Seder was warm and family-like. We laughed and sang a lot. During the mornings my friend and I got the small shop on campus all cleaned and ready for Pesach, and in the afternoons, we hung out and had a bunch of fun activities, even though we couldn’t leave the grounds.”
The director of the Kfar and his family held a Seder with the students observing strict regulations. In preparation, the mishpachton was cleaned of all chametz, dishes koshered for Pesach, and beautiful tables were set.
During their mornings, students worked on campus, earning spending money while gaining employment experience. They gardened and the grounds got a facelift. Flower beds and open spaces were weeded and cleaned for new plantings.
In preparation for Yom Hazikaron, Israel Memorial Day, they cleaned the memorial gardens planted throughout the campus in memory of students who fell in service to their country. The burlap lining the fences throughout the Village was replaced with bamboo stalks. Students painted the inside and outside of buildings, did minor repairs, and cleaned the common areas—synagogue, dining room, mishpachton living rooms and kitchens, and all of the activity rooms in the matnas (community center).
In the afternoons, the fun began. Instead of going on trips, activities came to the Youth Village. Bike ride competitions took place on site. Outdoor workouts helped everyone keep fit. And there were movie nights, barbecues, pizza nights, and more that kept everyone happy.
As is the AMIT way, the students also made sure to think of others. They assembled food packages for the area’s needy families and safely delivered them in advance of Pesach.
