Help Us Build the First Coffee Shop in Kibbutz Nir Oz

This October, for the 5th Builder Society trip since October 7, twenty US tech leaders will work shoulder-to-shoulder with the residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz to build their first-ever community coffee shop and first construction on the kibbutz since that fatal day.

Kibbutz Nir Oz endured unimaginable tragedy on October 7th - 25% of its 400 residents were kidnapped or murdered. Since then, the community has wrestled with the question of whether to preserve the ruins as memorials or to begin rebuilding. At the request of Nir Oz families, we will build a place for life to return and the community to gather in joy again - the Cactus Cafe. This will be much more than a typical coffee shop: this community space will allow residents to reconnect, visitors to build bonds with the kibbutz, and for hope to take root again.

We’ve seen the power of this before. In March 2024, we built Kibbutz Reim’s wine bar, the first new structure since 10/7. It became a beacon of resilience. At kickoff, it inspired residents to return to their homes for the first time since the war. Now, it’s the weekly host to tastings from wine producers and artistics performances. We believe the Cactus Cafe in Nir Oz can spark the same renewal.

This project carries profound symbolism. The cafe will be built in the historic location of the first ever dining hall in the kibbutz, constructed in 1955, before it was replaced by a new dining hall as the community grew. The name, Cactus Cafe, commemorates the cactus garden of Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their home was burned, Oded was brutally murdered in captivity by Hamas, yet the garden endures. Oded’s son, Arnon, and grandson, Daniel, will lead this construction effort alongside us, ensuring that even out of such tragic loss, life and community will once again flourish.

But we cannot do this alone. Every dollar you give will go directly toward materials, permits, and construction. Together, we can create not just a cafe, but a sanctuary of resilience, remembrance, and renewal for Nir Oz.

Please note that all donations are tax-deductible to our 501c3.

Help Us Build the First Project in Kibbutz Nir Oz Since 10/7