Policeman Phones Yad L’Achim: Rescue This Mother and Her Children
May 24, 2017
A Yad L'Achim security official en route to a rescue.
The dramatic story of A. began two years with a phone call placed by a sympathetic policeman in northern Israel.
A., a Jewish woman married to an Arab and living in his village, had mustered up the courage to come to the police station and file a complaint of severe domestic abuse against her husband. The policeman on duty put her in touch with Yad L’Achim, which he explained could help her should she decide to leave her husband.
A., who had a hard time trusting outsiders and panicked at the thought of what her husband would do to her if he found out she was planning to leave, rejected Yad L’Achim’s overtures. Her fear also led her to withdraw her police complaint against her husband.
But Yad L’Achim didn’t give up.
When she finally became convinced that Yad L’Achim had only her best interest in mind and could be trusted, she formed a relationship with one of the organization’s social workers. They would meet in the offices of the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) under the pretext that A. had things to take care of there. As an extra precaution, Yad L’Achim security people kept an eye on things.
With the passage of time, it became clear to A. that Yad L’Achim could deliver on its promise to rescue her from her dire straits and relocate her and her children to a safe home. She also understood that Yad L’Achim would provide psychological and legal help and even find her a source of income.
Yad L’Achim assured her she would never be alone during her return to Judaism. The organization would always be there for her, offering assistance and a warm home.
Finally, she accepted the “invitation” to return to her people and her birthplace. The daring rescue was quickly executed, with G-ds help, and A. and her children were living in safe house by Yad L’Achim.
Last week, when the Jewish people celebrated Lag BaOmer, A. and her family gathered around a Lag BaOmer bonfire together with the Yad L’Achim social workers and mentors that helped her and her children. Against the backdrop of the bonfires, A. and her children beheld the light that symbolized an end to their suffering and a new, hopeful beginning for them among their people.
