'You are not alone' - Descendants of Nazis volunteer to rebuild northern Israel, express solidarity

A moving report from Kan 11 news captured a scene of resilience and friendship in Metula, northern Israel, where a group of volunteers from Germany – men and women aged 16 to 70 – came together to restore the Beit Shalom guesthouse, which had stood empty since October 2023.

The initiative was born in a Christian community in Germany that gathered every Sunday to pray for Israel, support the Jewish people, and advocate for the return of the hostages. Wanting to translate their words into deeds, they decided to travel to Israel and dedicate their time to reviving the abandoned guesthouse.

Armed with rags, brushes and tools, the volunteers threw themselves into scrubbing and cleaning the long-closed rooms, working under difficult conditions of heavy dust and summer heat. Yet, their determination did not falter. For them, this effort was more than a physical task – it was a way to express solidarity with Israel at a time of mounting antisemitism around the world.

Claudia Schaal, one of the German volunteers explained: "We want to come and say, we want to stand with you, Israel, you are not alone."

Closing the circle of history

The presence of Germans working to restore life in Israel carried an undeniable historical weight. The volunteers themselves did not shy away from this. They acknowledged Germany’s Nazi past and saw their service as an act of reconciliation and healing. One volunteer, Fritz, was shown grilling meat for Israeli soldiers stationed nearby. His act carried a poignant symbolism, as his grandfather had once cooked for German soldiers during wartime. Now Fritz is continuing the family tradition – but in the service of Israel’s defenders.

Inside Beit Shalom, Miriam, the owner of the guesthouse, had arranged a small memorial display with photographs of her family members who perished in the Holocaust. As she welcomed the German volunteers, the connection between memory and present action became clear: The very descendants of those once aligned with Germany’s darkest history were now helping her to restore a place of hospitality and peace in Israel.