The Fire

With great relief, children and staff returned to the Village just one month after the fire.

Many Village homes proudly hang Israeli flags outside. The flags suffered damage but remained intact.

The wildfire struck during Hanukkah. It was the worst such fire in Israel's history.

Key administrative offices and some homes were gutted by the flames.

The fire destroyed Yemin Orde's library and all its contents. A temporary library is now in place.

Homes and offices became smoldering remnants.

The flames torched the Village's beloved Godjo and surrounding trees.

Fire and rescue teams from nearby communities helped distinguish the wildfire.

There were no injuries from the fire - a true Hanukkah miracle!

The fire torched some staff and children's homes. Everyone evacuated safely.

Benny Fisher & Chaim Peri Map Out the Damage.

A sense of relief and comfort as everyone returned to the Village.

The fire destroyed the Village's library.

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On December 4, 2010, Yemin Orde Youth Village was hit hard by the largest wildfire in Israel’s history. The fire destroyed thousands of acres in the Carmel Forest region of northern Israel, a typically lush and serene mountainous area, within close proximity to the Village.

As the wildfire raced toward the Village, all children and staff members and their families were safely evacuated to another nearby youth village. Miraculously, there were no injuries. When the smoke finally cleared, nearly 40 percent of Yemin Orde was burnt to the ground. Key administrative offices, the library, classrooms and staff homes were either destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.  

Today, rebuilding efforts are well underway. Thanks to the generosity of Friends of Yemin Orde’s worldwide community of supporters, assistance from the Israeli government, and insurance reimbursements, displacement of the staff and children at the Village was kept to a minimum;  daily life resumed only one month following the fire. A new Master Plan was created to rebuild the Yemin Orde Youth Village to reflect its original beauty and to enhance many of the older buildings and its aging infrastructure.

Your help is needed to close a $1.7 million funding gap to complete this rebuilding project at the Village. Help us meet our goal to finish this recovery project by July 2014.