A Story, a Smile, and Lots of Love

A personal blog by Tamar Gebara

I participate in the Israel Elwyn Adult Day Center in Ashkelon, and I’d like to tell you about something that fills my heart.

Every week, I visit a local kindergarten where I volunteer as part of a special intergenerational partnership. I arrive with a story, a smile, and lots of love—and the children? They wait for me every time with excitement.

Since I was a child, I’ve loved stories. Every story that was read to me became a whole world. The characters came to life, and I would act them out and imagine what came next. Today, I bring that same love to the kindergarten—telling stories, acting them out, and creating a unique experience with the children. Not just listening to a story but becoming part of it.

The children’s reactions move me every time. They ask when I’m coming next, they hug me, laugh, and remind me how a simple human connection can brighten an entire day.

I don’t need outside validation to know my worth—but the opportunity to give of myself, to contribute to others, strengthens me every time. Sometimes, when we come to give, we discover we’ve received even more.

Yours,
Tamar

The center operates under the supervision and funding of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs and the Ashkelon Municipality.