09/06/2026
Meet Adi Rozen — mother, entrepreneur, and resident of Netiv HaAsara, a small community just minutes from the Gaza border.
On October 7th, her family spent nearly 12 hours locked in their safe room.
"It was traumatic. We heard sirens for hours. We knew terrorists were in our area," recalls her son Yoav, 14. Her youngest was only five.
But Adi's story didn't start that morning — and it didn't end there either.
For years, she ran Sipur Culinary ("Culinary Story"), bringing people to the south of Israel to taste its food, meet its people, and feel its spirit. When conflict made travel impossible, she packed that spirit into boxes — assembling care packages by hand, with her children, filled with products from local southern producers.
After October 7th, the family was evacuated — first to Jerusalem, then to Atlanta, hosted by a Jewish community they'd never met.
"The solidarity and care were overwhelming. We were not alone," Adi says.
A year and a half later, they came home.
Today, Netiv HaAsara has a new park with olive trees honoring those lost, and a peace mural visible for miles. Adi and her kids designed this month's Lev Haolam package together — a tote bag, keychain, and puzzle — all centered on the red anemone, the flower of the south and a symbol of resilience.
"Hope lights our way always. It's rough, it's not easy — but at night we hear explosions and wake up to a new day. That's life in Israel." — Adi
Families like the Rozens choose to stay, rebuild, and share their story. Join Lev Haolam's mission and stand with the communities of southern Israel: https://tl.levhaolam.com/fbo 💙
