Tuesday, January 30, 2018: A large KKL Belgium delegation traveled to ALEH Negev – Nahlat Eran, the rehabilitation village for disabled young adults, to inaugurate a new pergola garden that they donated in memory of Arie Renous, former Head of the Belgian Jewish Community.
The Founder and Chairman of Aleh Negev – Nahlat Eran Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog was present to greet the KKL Belgium delegation, which included President of KKL Belgium Jacky Benzennou, KKL Belgium Director-General and KKL-JNF Emissary Daniel Benloulou, and KKL Belgium supporters from the Jewish and general communities. Several members of the Renous family were also present, including his two sons Rafael and Michael, and his brother Max who was with his wife Sonia.
They had all traveled to the village in Israel, situated near the Negev town of Ofakim, to see for themselves, for the first time, the new Pergola Garden and its accessible pathways that were constructed with funds they had donated to honor the late Arie Renous, who served as the long-time head of the Belgian Jewish Community.
ALEH Negev – Nahlat Eran is a 25-acre state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility which offers unparalleled care for residents with severe disabilities, helping each one reach their potential for communication and development. The village provides a high standard of residential, educational, medical and employment services and opportunities for social interaction that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Etti Lankry of KKL-JNF’s European desk graciously led the entire inauguration ceremony. She thanked one and all for attending and invited them to view a short film of the history of ALEH Negev-Nahlat Eran and its founders.
After viewing a film about the history of “ALEH” as it is fondly called, there were few dry eyes in the room. The audience learned that this cutting-edge center was the creation of Doron Almog, an Israeli military hero who fought in 4 wars and led many of the IDF’s most daring operations including the Entebbe Rescue Mission. Almog conceived of the idea when considering a home for Eran, his severely autistic son. He could not find one that suited his standards and decided to build a new facility to serve young adults with severe disabilities. Construction began in 2003. Eran lived in the village until his untimely death in February 2007 at the age of 23. The village, which was originally called “ALEH Negev”, was then renamed “ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran” in his memory.
Before calling on Doron Almog to address the group, President of KKL Belgium Jacky Benzennou said that he was ‘brimming with pride’ to be in the village with members of his community.
“We are privileged to have been able to contribute to the welfare of the people living here. We hope that the new pergolas and pathways will give residents easy access to the outdoors and the ability to enjoy the wonderful views and all that the open-air has to offer.”
Speaking next, Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, who was a former head of the IDF Southern Command, said that despite his high military rank, and all the honor and citations he had received throughout his army career, he felt incompetent as he grew older because he was unable to help his son Eran.
“My son Eran was actually the moving force behind the establishment of the ALEH Negev rehabilitative village. This village came into existence thanks to Eran, who never looked me in the eye or called me Abba – father. He made me realize that such a facility was needed in our country for him and other needy people like him. He was a pure and holy child and we were his messengers. Eran my son was named after my brother Eran who was killed in action during the Yom Kippur war while serving as a tank officer on the Golan Heights. This facility Aleh Negev - Nahlat Eran is named after both of them. That is Eran who fought to protect Israel, and after Eran who fought to provide a better life for the disabled.”
Michael Renous, the younger son of Arie Renous, told of some of his father's accomplishments during his long term as head of the Belgian Jewish community.
“In 1978 he led the building of the Jewish Community Center in Brussels, named the "Ben Gurion Center". Then in 1980 he set up the Jewish Radio Station “Judaica” which is still broadcasting 24/7 in French and Hebrew to this very day. He was an engineer by profession but his main interest was the Belgian Jewish Community and the welfare of the State of Israel.”
Longtime Office Manager of KKL Belgium Betty Dan said that she was privileged to have worked closely with Arie Renous for over 20 years.
“He was a wonderful person to work with. Arie was a leader with two goals in mind, the welfare of Belgian Jewry and the welfare of the State of Israel. That was his purpose and that is what he strove for. It is most fitting that KKL Belgium is inaugurating this site in his name here in Israel.”
Rafael Renous, the other son of Arie Renous, spoke on behalf of the family. He thanked KKL Belgium for the honor they were bestowing on his father, and he thanked all those present for coming to the inauguration.
“It is a great honor for us that so many people gave their time and money in memory of our father. It shows how they valued his work and feelings for the community. Our father experienced the war as a child in Belgium and it was the good deeds of many people at that time that helped him survive the horrors that were all around. That shaped his character as a person. He wrote in his book of memoirs that the reason why he devoted his life assisting the Jewish people and others, is a result of the help he received as a child. This ceremony in this particular place that is devoted to helping people in need is more than symbolical. My father would not have wished for any other token. I thank you all.”
Sunset was approaching when the Belgian delegation toured the beautiful, well designed and user friendly pergola. It had already been in use for several weeks and had become an integral part of the rehabilitative village. The day's activities ended with a plaque unveiling ceremony in honor of Arie Renous, which was carried out by Doron Almog and members of the Renous family. The Renous family was presented with a KKL-JNF certificate in memory of Arie, signed by KKL-JNF World Chairman Danny Atar.