Knitting Grannies: "We Wanted to Help Soldiers, So We Knit 707 Warm Hats"

"I never thought that at 83, after my husband fought in nearly all of Israel's wars—Six-Day War, War of Attrition, First and Second Lebanon War, and volunteered long after he was discharged, I would find myself with three grandchildren fighting in Gaza," says Shifra Rimer with a deep sigh. It's apparent that the thought of her grandchildren and other soldiers fighting is difficult for her.

But Shifra, despite her advanced age, doesn't think of sitting quietly. She's convinced that she and her friends can also contribute to the war effort and support the soldiers. This led her, along with other residents living in the 'Beit Bakfar' retirement home in Kfar Saba, to commit over recent months to knitting warm woolen hats for soldiers.

"It started on one of the cold winter days," Shifra recalls, "We sat in the lobby, watching the rain and winds outside, talking about the war in Gaza and the soldiers fighting in the cold. In that moment, one of the residents suggested: let's knit warm woolen hats for the soldiers. We may not be able to help them directly in the field, but at least we can ensure they aren't cold."

From that moment, dozens of residents took on the task. "We received a budget from 'Beit Bakfar' management and went out to find wool in stores," Shifra explains, "It wasn't easy finding wool in the exact shade to match the khaki uniforms, but eventually we succeeded. Since then, we've been knitting and knitting, up to this very day." According to her, they've knit 707 hats so far, and there's more to come.

How do you deliver the hats to the soldiers?

"Almost all of us have grandchildren in regular army service or reserves, and we deliver through them. Since we had extra hats, we also delivered to the Kfar Saba headquarters and other security locations in need of warm hats. These days, we are completing a project of knitting 200 hats for soldiers stationed on Mount Dov. I'm so happy we managed to knit for them because this time of the year, Mount Dov is the coldest it can be."

And who are the women knitting?

"Anyone who ever held knitting needles," Shifra responds with a smile, "Don't forget we're grandmothers, and most of us remember the craft from the past. We drink coffee and knit, listen to lectures and knit, chat with friends and knit. We truly make use of every minute for knitting. One of the residents here is already 90, with vision problems, and yet she knits more than anyone—almost around the clock. I asked her how she manages to knit without seeing, and she replied: 'I don't knit with my eyes, but with my heart.' Recently she also told me: 'Before I pack the finished hats, I bless each one individually, praying that the prayers and blessings reach the soldiers.' This touched me especially. Because these days the only thing that occupies our minds and hearts is for the soldiers to come home safely, as soon as possible, healthy and whole in body and spirit. That is our prayer."