Day 318 of the War: Tu B’Av At The Families’ Headquarters

I often write about my experiences volunteering in the dining room at the Families’ Headquarters. Last week, I mentioned a family member who cooks for us every couple of weeks. Today, I asked him if I could write about him in my blog,  mention his full name and show his photo. He generously agreed.

Danny Miran, from Yesud Hama’ala in the north, is the father of Omri Miran (46), who was taken captive on October 7 from his kibbutz, Nahal Oz. Many people in Israel recognize Danny by his white beard, which he is growing until his son returns from captivity, so they can shave it off together.

I have been volunteering in the dining room since the end of February, and during that time, Danny has prepared special meals for us on several occasions. Somehow, everything he makes tastes just right, and as he prepares his special dishes, he manages to teach us something about food preparation that is both delicious and time-saving. Last time, it was a new way of preparing eggplants. Since the dining room receives many donations, we never know what will arrive, and it so happened that we had lots and lots of eggplants. To save time, Danny suggested that we cut them into round slices and toast them in a toaster press. It saves time and turns out delicious. These kind of lessons happen every time he is in the kitchen.

But for Tu B’Av, Danny, along with two of our most dedicated volunteers, came up with an unusual and hopeful activity for the Headquarters. They organized a flower-arranging workshop for the families and volunteers, using an abundance of flowers donated by several nurseries. Danny gave a brief introduction to the Japanese Ikebana, a  minimalist form of traditional flower arrangement, and Edna, a volunteer who is also a floral designer, taught a short lesson in traditional flower arranging. There were several sessions, and at the end of each, the bouquets were collected to be delivered to wounded soldiers in hospitals in honor of Tu B’Av.

We, the volunteers, were delighted with the success of the workshop. The participants were fully engaged, looked genuinely happy, and every arrangement turned out beautifully. Several volunteers and family members brought their children along. I had a feeling that Danny and the two volunteers who initiated and carried out the workshop hoped it would provide solace to the families and help them forget, even if just for a short while, the difficult circumstances they are living under. I believe it worked.