“A messy redhead full of surprises” is how Vered Libstein, of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, lovingly remembers her husband, Ofir, whom she first met while serving as a social worker in the IDF.

Together, they built a beautiful life. A shared passion for mapping the locations of anemone flowers blossomed into one of Israel’s most beloved flower festivals, Darom Adom (“The Red South”).

Ofir, who headed the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, was also committed to improving the lives of their Gazan neighbors. He championed the groundbreaking Cedar Project, which aimed to provide Gazans with jobs in the fields of communication and med-tech.

But their life together was tragically cut short on October 7, when Ofir was killed defending their home in Kfar Aza.

On that day, his and Vered’s son Nitzan, age 19, remained in his apartment, in what is known as the “young generation” neighborhood. Terrorists broke in, sprayed the apartment with gunfire, and burned it. Nitzan fled to the shelter with serious wounds, and with the rest of his strength, managed to escape through the window. 

Tragically, Nitzan succumbed to his injuries and was found lifeless days later, hidden among the bushes outside his home.

“My boy survived; he faced hell and survived. They [the army] just didn't reach him in time,” Vered says.

The heartbreak didn’t end there. On October 7, Vered's mother, Bilha Epstein, and her nephew Netta Epstein were also killed.   

Nitzan’s Story

Nitzan's journey had already been one of resilience. Years ago, when Nitzan was in second grade, a missile exploded near his house. A week later, his beloved grandfather passed away unexpectedly. These two experiences had a profound impact on Nitzan's functioning both socially and academically.

Formerly a straight-A student, Nitzan came close to dropping out of eighth grade and was a step from being arrested. Desperate for a solution, Vered and Ofir searched tirelessly for a place where Nitzan could heal. They found the Nirim Youth Village, a haven in northern Israel where nature and connection to the land help at-risk youth rebuild their lives.

"This place brought air back into my lungs," says Vered. Nitzan bloomed in Nirim, becoming a leader and inspiring others to follow his path.

Vered’s Dream

In the wake of unimaginable loss, Vered is channeling her grief into action. For the past year, she has served as the chairperson of the Kfar Aza committee in charge of the community’s return. And now, she’s decided to establish a branch of the Nirim Youth Village, the framework that saved Nitzan, for at-risk youth in the Gaza envelope area.

“After the hell we went through, I know from personal experience there will be so many more children from the area who will go through the post-trauma that Nitzan suffered from, and we cannot just trust the government. These children deserve an answer — they deserve to believe that they are capable of recovering, as Nitzan did.”

Her dream is to name the south branch Nitzan Nirim, and thanks to UJA’s support, that vision is taking its first steps toward reality.

The Nitzan Nirim school started operating two months ago in its temporary location at Sapir College near Sderot. The first class of children has already set out on their first two-day field trip, a small but powerful step to healing.