Children by the parrot cage

December 7, 2010 / 30 Kislev 5771

Shaadi Malak, a Druze fourth grade student, was studying in Kibbutz Beit Oren during the outbreak of the Carmel fire.  It all unfolded before his eyes.

Nigel, teaches at Ussfiya's elementary school.  During a day of relief and relaxation at the Safari with her students, she recollected Shaadi's story, and his fear for his friends' lives.

"Shaadi saw the fire right before his eyes.  It was 4:30 p.m. when he saw the bus with the prison wardens from the Prison Service Officer's Training Program go up in flames.  When he arrived at home he was heartbroken.  I know he suffered great pain from what he had witnessed.  The principal of the school sent him a movie and photographs to calm his nerves after the fire was finally put out.  The other students viewed the movie as well", described Nigel, as she toured the Ramat Gan Safari with her students, an outing sponsored by the Jewish Agency and Rabbi Yitzchak Grossman's organization, Migdal Or.

Angam Malak, a teacher at the local school added: "It was painful watching our Carmel burning.  This is the view we see each day of our lives.  Suddenly everything is gone.  It's all burned.  All that is left is a black stain.  We hope everything will pass, and over time the area will become green as it was.  Hopefully we will be able to return the Carmel to the way it looked before the fire".

Hundreds of children at the Ramat Gan Safari

Liran Mansour, another fourth grade student, heard the discussion and added of his own volition: "This was the greatest disaster in the world for me.  I witnessed this disaster.  I am frightened of fire and flames, because it all happened near our house.  The police told us not to leave our house, but I saw, I actually saw the fire rise above the trees.  To this moment I am sad about the trees and the homes that were burned.  I hope everything can go back to the way it was before the fire".

The ten and eleven year old children enjoyed every moment of their trip to the Safari.  Some leaned against fences and looked at the animals, which were so close.  Others stared at the giant parrots.
The principal of Ussfiya middle school thanked the Jewish Agency and the donors for the important service they provided for the children, who had experienced such difficult days.