21.05.2026

On the 28th of May, Shalom House at the HHC Caesarea headquarters welcomed a group of Holocaust survivors from Or Akiva, led by Sophia Medvinskaya, for a joyful Shavuot celebration. Bozena Gasiorowski warmly received the guests and beautifully prepared the festive table with flowers and ears of wheat. Special guests Andrea from Germany’s Global Aid Network, together with Petra and Lena from the March of Life team, also joined the gathering, later sharing about the purpose and vision of the upcoming March of Life.

The celebration began with blessings over the candles, bread, and wine. One of the survivor ladies shared the meaning and traditions of the feast, while Nela explained, “Shavuot is one of the feasts during which the people of Israel traveled to Jerusalem, and believers traditionally stay awake through the night reading the Book of Ruth.”

Bozena then shared her own experience as a modern-day Ruth, saying that one day Ruth’s words echoed in her own life. She reflected on the meaning of Shavuot, sharing, “Freedom is not only about leaving Egypt. It is also about learning how to live, how to love one another, and how to walk with God. That is why at Mount Sinai the people received the Torah, God’s instructions for life, to help them live out that calling.”

The atmosphere became especially lively as Bozena referred to the first fruit offering and the importance of gratitude in Shavuot. Her reflections inspired people to begin sharing what they were thankful for in their lives and especially for that day, filling the room with joy, smiles, and heartfelt moments.

Yaakov, one of the survivors, shared, “The atmosphere of this meeting touched me deeply with its purity and beauty of spirit.”

After lunch and fellowship, everyone gathered in the garden for a final photo, ending the day with joy and warm memories.