By Rubin E. Grant
For decades, the Duvdevani family from Birmingham has lived in Moshav Talmei Yosef, a small village of about 300 near Gaza, where residents grow flowers for export.
Now, Birmingham is mobilizing to help the moshav and other frontline Israeli communities in the Eshkol region near Gaza as they reel from the surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. The area includes approximately 32 communities with nearly 20,000 residents.
Some communities lost significant portions of their residents in the massacre. About 10% of the 1,000 residents of Kibbutz Be’eri were killed.
Chabad of Alabama is taking the lead on a campaign to send funds to support people in the region. Jeremy and Dovrat Duvdevani, who grew up in that region but now live in Mountain Brook, set up the relief effort. Also involved in the campaign are the Kartus, Downs and Datnoff families of Birmingham.
The initial goal is $200,000, which will go toward “essential necessities.”
“These 32 communities have been significantly impacted, experiencing casualties, wounded and missing family members and friends, and extensive damage to their homes,” Jeremy Duvdevani said. “Many have been forced to evacuate and are currently stranded, relying on the generosity of others who have opened their homes to offer shelter. They are in dire need of essential necessities, including food, clothing, lodging, defensive gear, generators and funeral expenses for their loved ones.
“Some families have been left with nothing, as their communities have been entirely devastated and wiped out. With businesses, farms and factories destroyed and shut down, the livelihoods of these families have been completely upended,” he continued. “While these communities have endured rocket fire for years, the current situation is the most dire they have ever faced. The level of danger and hardship they are experiencing now surpasses anything they have encountered before.”
Talmei Yosef is about 3 miles from Gaza and 4 miles from the Egyptian border. It is near the southern end of Gaza, while the Erez crossing and areas most heavily infiltrated by Hamas were at the northern end. Talmei Yosef is 25 miles from hard-hit Kfar Aza.
Throughout the years, numerous groups from Birmingham have taken trips to Israel, including a visit to Talmei Yosef. In the days long before the 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza, the border was mainly open and they were able to shop in Gaza, while Gazans worked on the moshav.
Sallie Downs told Southern Jewish Life magazine that her sister, Margaret Duvdevani, and her family were evacuated by the military to a moshav near Eilat and the Jordanian border. Son Daniel stayed behind to work security in the area.
Margaret’s husband, Giora, died the day after they arrived in the south.
“His health was volatile, and the multiple stresses imposed upon him took its toll,” Downs said.
Downs said the evacuees “left home quickly with little or nothing,” and “those providing shelter, food and support for the evacuees could use support in their humanitarian efforts.”
Close Connections
Jeremy Duvdevani said the decision to raise funds was because of concerned friends.
“Many of our friends in Birmingham and across the United States have expressed their concern and asked, ‘How can we help Israel?’” he said. “We would like to ask you to join our effort to support friends and family of the Eshkol region who have been devastated and displaced. Your donation will be instrumental during these harrowing times, enabling them to endure the challenges.”
The Birmingham Jewish Federation is doing an emergency campaign with the Jewish Federations of North America. Downs said she supports their work wholeheartedly, but this separate campaign is needed because the federations don’t have the flexibility to target funds immediately to a specific community.
All of the funds raised will go to the people of the Eshkol region. These funds are being collected and distributed through Chabad of Alabama.
Anyone wishing to donate through check or a foundation, please give to Chabad of Alabama with Israel in the memo. To learn more, visit charidy.com/supportisrael.
