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25 families returning to Manara, Malkiya and Yar’on  after FIRM completed the reconstruction of their homes at a cost of 6 million $.

FIRM members and partners  gathered in Manara for a full-scale community restoration effort, carrying out a wide range of final preparations— from landscaping to hands-on work that helps ensure families, return to homes that are safe, welcoming, and ready for life to resume.

Following the October 7 a2acks, Israel’s northern border communi;es faced widespread destruc;on, prolonged displacement, and growing uncertainty about their future. Homes were damaged or destroyed, families were evacuated, and concerns emerged that without decisive rebuilding, en;re communi;es along the .border could be permanently weakened—or lost altogether Kibbutzim such as Menara have long played a strategic and social role in anchoring Israel’s northern fron;er. 

Beyond housing, they sustain agriculture, maintain a civilian presence near the border, and represent a model of shared responsibility and permanence.

Prolonged displacement placed that model under serious strain, raising .not only ques;ons of reconstruc;on, but of long-term viability As the months passed, it became clear that rebuilding would require more than restoring damaged structures. It demanded coordinated ac;on to enable families to return safely, protect livelihoods, and preserve stable civilian communi;es in a highly .sensi;ve border region A Coordinated Rebuilding Effort In response, FIRM worked in close coordina; on with local municipali;es and relevant governmental authori;es to advance rebuilding efforts aligned with municipal planning, security requirements, and regional infrastructure standards. FIRM invested $6 million into this housing iniAaAve, made possible through the faithful support of Chris;ans from around the world, and carried out in partnership with .local leadership at a ;me when progress in the north had largely stalled Delivering permanent housing during an ac;ve conflict is both logis;cally and administra;vely rare. Through sustained coordina;on and long-term commitment, FIRM helped complete and deliver 25 homes across three northern communiAes— Manara, Malkiya, and Yiron. This includes 12 homes in Manara, 5 in Malkiya, and 8 in Yiron. 

Construction took place amid ongoing security threats and complex approval processes, requiring extensive logis;cal planning while residents remained .displaced and wai;ng to return The homes were designed with safety and resilience as a priority and constructed into the interior of the hillside to enhance protec;on for families returning to a vola;le border area .

MULTI-PHASE IMPACT Beyond mee;ng immediate needs, the homes serve a long-term purpose. They provide dignified, temporary housing for residents returning while their original homes are rebuilt. Once those renova;ons are complete, the FIRM-built homes will remain as high-quality, affordable housing op;ons for young families—strengthening .

Menara’s long-term growth and sustainability Current Status and Next Steps While construction has been completed, families have not yet moved into the homes due to remaining internal kibbutz processes and local infrastructure work s;ll underway. Community leadership con;nues to address these final requirements, .with expecta;ons that the first residents will return by the end of January The presence of completed homes has already shiUed the outlook for displaced residents. 

The uncertainty of if families would return has been replaced by planning .for when Community PerspecAve Einat, a Menara resident for 14 years, experienced significant damage to her home .during the conflict It was very hard for me to go inside when I first saw it,” she said. “I didn’t have a“ ”.living room for two years Reflec;ng on the rebuilding effort, she added, “I was very excited, but a>er a few months, I saw that it actually happened. I just want to say thank you for changing my ”.life and my children’s life Her experience reflects the broader impact of rebuilding efforts now underway .across northern border communi;es Marking Progress

On January 26, 2026, local ministries and community partners gathered to acknowledge progress toward welcoming families back to Menara. The gathering will mark a significant milestone in the community’s recovery and a recogni;on of the .sustained coordina;on required to reach this stage Throughout the process, FIRM’s role has focused on facilita;on and partnership— connec;ng interna;onal resources with local authori;es and opera;ng within established governmental and municipal frameworks to ensure rebuilding is secure, .sustainable, and community-driven Looking Ahead While challenges remain, the progress achieved to date demonstrates that coordinated, long-term rebuilding in Israel’s north is both possible and effec;ve. For communi;es like Menara, it represents a tangible path forward—and a clear commitment to ensuring that northern border communi;es are restored, strengthened, and able to endure On January 26, 2026, FIRM members, community partners, and representa;ves from local councils and government agencies that were partners in the project will meet in .Manara. 

The gathering will mark a significant milestone in the community’s recovery CEO of FIRM, said he is proud of the long-term restora;on project ,Michael Mistretta and the commitment of the organiza;on and its supporters around the world to communi;es on the northern border who will con;nue to live meaningful lives and .with dignity The Federa;on of Israel Support Organiza;ons, is a non-profit organiza;on - FIRM based in Jerusalem and aims to assist Israel from 74 offices and communi;es throughout the country. The organiza;on works to connect Israel-loving Chris;ans .around the world to visit, assist and contribute to the people of Israel .