Henna Ceremony* Of A Lifetime

Holocaust survivors from the Amcha branch in Beer Sheva prepared a moving henna ceremony for the club coordinator and her husband, who took a short vacation from his reserve duty in Gaza for the occasion 

It is precisely in these days of hardship and sadness and war, that the Holocaust survivors of Amcha mobilize supreme mental strength and seek every opportunity to rejoice. These people, who endured great suffering in their lifetime, who survived Nazi persecution, who experienced the destruction of their families and homes during the Holocaust, teach us all a lesson about the power of love and joy. In times of crisis, Holocaust survivors can inspire us all with hope and optimism.

Sabina Tabachnik, the legendary coordinator of the Amcha club in Beer Sheva, became engaged to Shalom Dinkovich, her partner, who proposed to her and was immediately drafted into the reserves in Gaza.

Holocaust survivors who love Sabina very much and are very attached to her, wanted to express their love for her and organized a special henna ceremony at the Amcha club in Beer Sheva.

The survivors organized the entire henna ceremony including traditional Moroccan costumes (kaftans), Moroccan food and music. The groom Shalom was released from reserve duty especially for the morning of the ceremony, where he arrived in uniform directly from Gaza. Sabina's mother, who lives in Shlomi and was recently evicted from her home, also came to participate in the exciting festivities.

Holocaust survivors wrote Sabina congratulations and best wishes for her marriage. With blessings, they expressed their love and appreciation for her.

According to Rotem, director of Amcha Beer Sheva: "The event was exciting. The amazing connection between Holocaust survivors who are looking for any way to rejoice and the difficult war that is being waged now, teaches us again and again what love is and what true resurrection is."

*Mehndi—or mehendi or henna—is an ancient form of body art, originating in India and across South Asia and the Middle East. A mehndi party is a pre-wedding celebration in Hindu and Sikh culture; during this event, the bride has a red-orange mehndi "stain" applied to her palms, the back of her hands, and her feet. Sefardi Jews adopted this henna tradition and also practice it.

Amcha – The Israeli Center for Emotional and Social Support for Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation is a nonprofit organization that provides mental health care and social support to some 10,000 Holocaust survivors and their families. The organization operates through a network of 15 centers scattered throughout the country, from Nahariya in the north to Beer Sheva and Sderot in the south. as well as the homes of confined survivors.