"Hug Rugs" for Nirim

Kibbutz Nirim was not so long ago a quiet community of some 430 residents including 180 children, located about two kilometers from the Gaza border in the Northwestern Negev. With an economy based on agriculture and a paint factory, the kibbutz celebrated its 77th anniversary with great fanfare on October 6, 2023.

Then came October 7.

Located only 7 km from Khan Yunis, Kibbutz Nirim was a sitting target. Five civilians and three soldiers were murdered. Five people were kidnapped from the kibbutz. Three were released that November but the bodies of the other two were recovered by the IDF months later.

Homes were vandalized and destroyed. The remaining residents were evacuated to Eilat and then to Beersheva. Most have not been able to return home.

The whole of Israel was shocked and appalled, including Dina Lipsky, a Kfar Saba resident whose hobby is making intricate, artistic quilts, and who belongs to an active 35-member English speaking quilting group called Accent Quilters. Over the years, the group has donated quilts to many needy recipients, including preemies, children at risk, Lone Soldiers and at-risk teenagers in out-of-home residences. After October 7, they sewed more than 190 unique quilts to give to injured and evacuated soldiers and civilians, for which Telfed donated bolts of batting for the middle layer.

Shortly after, October 7, Dina visited her son and his family in Pittsburgh. Her son Hanan and his wife Adi were grief-stricken. For them, this was a personal tragedy – they had worked as teachers in that area and knew some of the adults and children involved,l, including Adele Raemer, an educator who had initiated the blog "Life on the Border with Gaza." Adele had survived by hiding in her saferoom with her son, Adam Levy, who was visiting for the Simchat Torah holiday. By a seeming miracle, they were rescued after 11 hours.

Dina read the stories Adele posted and was very moved.

"When I arrived back in Israel, I felt that I had to make Adele a quilt," says Dina. "Her quilt had to be in blue and white, like flags, but not pristine; rather something made of what remained, what was found, what could be put together to build a new future or serve as a foundation for something to emerge and grow, but not deny the past.

"I started sewing bits and pieces together, while thinking of Adele. My floor was covered with the pieces. I would add, subtract and move them around, and then listen to what they were saying and how to say it best. I'd take a look at night, go to sleep, dream and the next morning I would tweak and sew. "

The quilt she made with great devotion was titled "Picking up the Pieces and Flying Away Home" and featured on the front swallows flying upward on a diagonal, gaining more birds on their path. Towards the top, there are lines of connection. The back pictures flying geese, which Dina explains symbolize direction, leadership, commitment and connection to one another.

"On the left, I was inspired to add a 'spiritline', a Navajo rug weaver tradition. The line allows the weaver's invested spirit to be channeled and released.

"This spiritline is not only my path departing from this quilt, but a path inviting you to travel into it, own it, and carry it into your future," she wrote to Adele.

After Dina showed her quilt to her group, a decision was made to make more – many more – quilts for Nirim residents as their next project. The aim is to create 150 – 190 quilts, personalized as to the recipients' color choice and if possible, to incorporate something important to them. These quilts are not only works of art, but are a generous and comfortable 50 x 70 inches (127 x 178 cm) in size, just right for cuddling up under in bed or on the sofa, which is why they are often called "hug rugs" or "cuddle blankets". The project has been named "Quilts from the Heart."

The quilts are three layers thick, like a sandwich: top and bottom of fabric and soft cotton filler (batting) in the middle. After the quilter creates the top layer by sewing together colorful pieces of fabric in a pattern, the three levels are sewn together using "Sadie", an enormous long-arm quilting machine owned by Raanana resident Terry Mowszowski. The machine is computerized, so designs such as hearts or leaves and many other possibilities can be programmed to sew the design on the quilt. The edges are finished with a fabric binding.

To quilters like Dina, "each quilt becomes a unique, personalized huggable household item that symbolizes family, togetherness, comfort and security."

The members of the group work on their individual quilts at their monthly meetings, Occasionally, a "Quinglish" (for quilting in English) session is held as well. The meetings include a show and tell segment and a demonstration to help them master new techniques. They are held at Beth Protea and new members are very welcome, as are contributions towards the new quilts.

And when the quilts are done?

"We are not sure how and when they are going to be given out, but one thing we are thinking about is a picnic at which we will hand over the completed quilts to the members of Nirim for whom they were made," says Dina. In other words, a symbolic hug and a look to a brighter future.

For further information, contact: Ros Ben Ezratel: +972 525 393 274