May 10th, 2017 – On 9th of May 2017, the Victory Day (День Победы, Den Pobedy), a group of 17 Holocaust survivors from Afula were guests at the Caesarea Villa. The festively dressed survivors were welcomed by Radiant Group, Kol Dodi, Helping Hand Coalition for Israel (עמותת יד לעזרה ישראל) and March of Life volunteers and representatives with roses! This was very special. The President of Helping Hand Coalition, Andre Gasiorowski, congratulated and honored the survivors with this great celebration.
At a special dinner the head of the survivors’ group from Afula Yefim Kippnis and another lady shared about tragic fates of their families during the Holocaust. A volunteer from the March of Life spoke about the guilt of her grandfather and asked those present for forgiveness. Tears of reconciliation flowed on both sides. The dinner was concluded with gifts and singing of Jewish and Russian songs accompanied by Rabbi Ken on the guitar.
