Israel's human mosaic: Nefesh B'Nefesh celebrates 68

Nefesh B’Nefesh has launched an emotionally-charged video to accompany the joyous occasion of Israael's 68th Independence Day and showcasing the human mosaic of Israel. 

From war hero to farmer, teacher to midwife, the video tells the stories of the everyday heroes that epitomize what makes Israeli society unique – the strength of its immigrants. Israel’s human mosaic illustrates both the diversity of Olim and those who have dedicated their lives to securing and building the State of Israel.

The video pulls its title, “With these Hands,” from the Naomi Shemer song written for Yehoram Gaon, “Od Lo Ahavti Dai”, and emphasizes the building of the State, a project which began over 68 years ago and continues today.

Those featured in the video are:

•Captain Ziv Shilon, who was seriously injured by an explosion on the Gaza border in 2012 and lost his hand. The story of his recovery has made Shilon into a household name in Israel as an icon of resilience, leadership and Zionism;

•Rena Rapps, a newlywed who made Aliyah from the US in 2014, on her 20th birthday with the dream of starting and raising a family in the Jewish State;

•Marta Weiss, a Holocaust survivor who at a young age survived Auschwitz-Birkenau camp among other horrific encounters. Last January, on International Holocaust Remembrance day, Weiss represented the State of Israel at the United Nations in an emotionally charged appeal never to forget;

•Shmuel Jambrina, a 25-year-old soldier from Spain who served in the Nahal Brigade. He is now a reservist who is planning a career in education and starting a family of his own in Israel;

•Chana Deevon, who recently retired after 53 years of working as a midwife at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. She delivered nearly 40 thousand babies over the course of her career, including her granddaughter and great-granddaughter.  Four generations of the Deevon family appear in the video.

•Rabbi David Twersky, who immigrated to Israel in 2013 and now lives in Jerusalem. He made Aliyah in order to live out the aspirations and dreams of his parents and grandparents in the Jewish homeland, closer to the Jewish people.