Yousef woke early October 7, 2023, to frenzied text messages from the people who had dropped off at the Nova music festival hours earlier. Hamas had unleashed thousands of rockets at Israeli communities as cover for the invasion with thousands of terrorists, and the premeditated massacre of 1200 and kidnapping of 251. They begged him to come rescue them.

Yousef leapt out of bed and raced out of his home in the Bedouin Arab community in which he and his family live. He arrived back at the Nova site, miraculously avoiding roadblocks Hamas terrorists had set up as death traps.  Yousef has been acknowledged as one of the heroes of October 7, rescuing 30 Israelis and bringing them to safety.  

While Yousef was rescuing 30 strangers, some shot and bleeding, he didn’t know that four of his own relatives were being kidnapped. Two were released in November 2023. A year later, the bodies of their father, Yousef’s cousin, and his older son were, found in Gaza and brought home for burial.

Yousef is an easy going, kind, and thoughtful man.  He curses the Hamas terrorists as animals, and against Islam, of which he is a devoted adherent. He’s the father of seven. Humble and forward thinking. He is a proud and grateful Israeli.

Yet Yousef is uncomfortable smiling.  Not because he, like most Israelis, is traumatized by the Hamas massacre and war. He is uncomfortable smiling because he is embarrassed by how his teeth look. As a father of seven he spends his precious resources on taking care of his family, not on things for himself.

Yousef needs major dental work.  He shared openly but never asked for anything.  But how could we not try to help.  We connected him with a dental clinic that agreed to take care of Yousef’s major dental needs at a very reduced rate. But still, the amount of work that’s needed even at a reduced rate is significant: $23,000.

Join us to be a blessing to Yousef, to give him all the reasons to smile again. If only 32 people donate just $720, we will be able to rebuild Yousef’s smile.

Partnering with us is an incredible Jerusalem-based ministry, Bridges for Peace. They’ve committed to match the initial donations so that you can help rebuild one tooth for just $360.  But any amount makes a huge difference, and no doubt will make Yousef smile. 

Please join us today with any donation.  Yousef is appreciative, but at the same time he’s uncomfortable because he’s so modest.  He doesn’t like the idea of others doing something for him, and certainly not ever the impression that he did what he did – saving the lives of 30 Israelis – on October 7 in order to derive any benefit. Of course he never asked, but when a hero who has saved the lives of so many others on a day of such carnage needs some help, how can we not smile and say yes.