In the heart of Moshav Yakhini, three women from the Sha’ar HaNegev group of Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus came together to create something quietly powerful – a project that honors the lives and voices of the women who built their community.
Their initiative, inspired by the mitzvah of vehadarta (“honor the elderly”), became both an act of remembrance and renewal. With open hearts and deep respect, they transformed listening into art.
A new beginning: the Vehadarta Club
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the Vehadarta Club opened its doors in Yakhini. It marked the culmination of months of gentle conversations, laughter, and shared memories among the moshav’s veteran women and the volunteers who had become part of their circle.
At the center of it all was Sheri Gal, a Shnat Sherut 50 Plus volunteer whose weekly meetings with the women gave rise to a special bond. Every Tuesday, stories flowed, tales of early days on the moshav, of resilience, of family and friendship, and from these encounters grew the idea for a photographic exhibition that would give those stories visual life.
Capturing lives in light
The exhibition that launched the club was a celebration of faces and voices.
- Photographs by Sigal Blair-Gat, also a volunteer in the Sha’ar HaNegev group, captured moments of intimacy and quiet pride.
- Curation by Merav Shterk, another group volunteer, gave the display its shape and soul.
- Additional portraits were contributed by Nati Marcos, director of the “Ein Metzion” association, who had come to Yakhini as a volunteer to perform free eye tests, and stayed to photograph the community he met.
“Each photograph tells a piece of Yakhini’s story, not from history books, but from the eyes of the women who lived it,” says Sheri.
Among them was Shoshana Siani, one of Yakhini’s veteran residents, photographed against the familiar landscape of her home. (Photo: Sigal Blair-Gat)
Continuing threads
Though the Sha’ar HaNegev group began its volunteering mid-year, several of its members have chosen to continue this year , a testament to the depth of the relationships formed. The Vehadarta project became more than an exhibition: it became a living dialogue between generations, a bridge between past and present.
In the words of one participant
“We met to talk, but what we found was connection. The stories made us see each other, and ourselves, anew.”
About the project
Location: Moshav Yakhini, Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council
Volunteers: Sheri Gal, Sigal Blair-Gat, and Merav Shterk
Collaborator: Nati Marcos, “Ein Metzion” Association
Opening date: September 11, 2025
Call to action: Projects like Vehadarta are what make Shnat Sherut 50 Plus unique, where professional experience, empathy, and creativity come together in service of community.
Join us in building bridges between generations.
