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Designed with love

“Tszav 8 for Designers” is an initiative born during Operation Cast Lead, about ten years ago. Designers from across Israel rallied round to redesign the rooms of injured soldiers to support them on their recovery journey. The initiative was picked up again last year and next month it will be raising funds for the makeover of an extra 50 living spaces for soldiers from the rehabilitation department in Tel Hashomer Hospital / By Nava Marton

4 rooms, 4 stories Ori Megidish, 19, kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base where she served as a surveillance soldier, and rescued by the IDF in a heroic mission Surveillance soldier Ori Megidish from Kiryat Gat was kidnapped by Hamas from Nahal Oz base. Many of her friends were killed that day. After 23 days in captivity, she was rescued from Gaza, in a heroic IDF operation. She has since recounted the dream she had of her grandmother the night before she was rescued, and how the following morning, she saw a butterfly flying out from a drawer, taking these occurrences for a sign she would be released. Incredibly, even though designers Liat Shaia and Ariela Dahari had not heard this story before, they created a butterfly themed wallpaper for Megidish’s bedroom makeover. Michelle Rukovitzin, 24, intelligence systems technician at Kissufim military base Michelle Rukovitzin was severely injured on October 7 2023. After a three-month coma, she regained consciousness and embarked upon an arduous rehabilitation journey.

Led by Miri Balbul, designer and founder of the design school Sculla, “Tszav 8 for Designers” brought together 250 Israeli designers who raised money, furniture, and resources to redesign 140 rooms for soldiers injured during Operation Cast Lead, as well as refurbish ten apartments and redesign them from top to bottom, to fit the needs of recovering soldiers - Since the start of the current war, the Tszav 8 initiative has been back on track. “On the second day of the war, I formed a team of 300 designers from across the country”, says Balbul, “To date, 150 injured soldiers’ rooms have been redesigned, as well as those of six former hostages. Eight apartments for severely injured soldiers have also been refurbished, all located near the hospital, so it’s easier to come and go from the rehab center. This month, Tszav 8 is launching a fundraising initiative as they hope to refurbish 50 more rooms for injured soldiers still hospital-bound in Tel Hashomer. For donations in money and/or furniture and equipment: jgive.com/ new/he/ils/donation-targets/112751 entirely free of charge. Tszav 8 – round 2

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28 ATMOSPHERE JANUARY 2025