Cold Israeli Winter, Warm Hearts in Bat Yam 

Winter in Israel is a season of stark contrasts, shifting rapidly from sunny, mild afternoons to wet, biting cold. While snow can blanket the hills in some regions, those living along the coast face a different kind of hardship as nighttime temperatures fall into the low forties. For many new immigrants from Ethiopia, this climate is a shock to the system. Living in thin-walled apartments in Bat Yam—one of Israel’s poorest cities—families often lack the absolute basics, like a simple heater, which can be the difference between a cold shelter and a warm home.

The elderly Ethiopian community in Bat Yam is often described as the "poorest of the poor," and many have lived in Israel for 30 or 40 years without ever receiving this level of direct assistance. Yulia Mestechkin of CBN Israel described the urgency of the mission: “We are now in the city of Bat Yam... and we're going to visit a club for the elderly Ethiopian immigrants... The winter has been cold, and we can distribute some heaters and blankets for them. So, of course, we are very happy to help”.

The impact of this outreach goes far beyond physical warmth. Because of the choice of donors to give, these elderly Israelis who once felt forgotten now have tangible proof that someone cares. The distribution was met with overwhelming joy, with one observer noting, “In all the time that we have been coming to this immigrant center, we have never seen something so joyful”.

humanitarian AidReflecting on the day, Mestechkin shared the emotional weight of the experience: “What an experience. People were so moved. They hugged us, they prayed for us. They blessed us... Nobody ever came to them with help like we just did. It's really heartbreaking. I hope we can do more to help this community”. The gratitude of the residents was best captured by one Ethiopian woman who offered a heartfelt blessing to the CBN Israel team: “May God prolong your days. May he grant you health, bring you joy in your lives, and bless you with happiness in everything that happens”. Your support is doing more than just heating a room—it is proving to those who felt overlooked that they are seen, known, and loved.