Pioneering Spirit and Resilience: Life in Vered Yicho Through Decades of Change
Dani and Shula from Vered Yicho reflect on decades of pioneering, overcoming bankruptcy, rebuilding their restaurant after a fire, and family life amid the war.
Life in Israel often balances between pioneering spirit, personal resilience, and the shadow of ongoing conflicts. For Dani (85) and Shula (79) from Vered Yicho, a cooperative moshav overlooking the Palestinian city of Jericho, the journey spans decades of building communities, overcoming financial ruin, and maintaining family bonds during wartime.
Roots and Early Days
Both Dani and Shula were born in Tunisia and met by chance in Israel after the Six-Day War. Dani recalls rushing back to Israel on a cargo ship in 1967, fearing the country might not survive. After the war, he met Shula at a family gathering. They eventually moved to Arad and later sought to establish a new settlement near Jericho. After initial government rejections and founding Mitzpe Yeriho, ideological divisions prompted Dani and Shula to help establish Vered Yicho, becoming its very first residents.
"We believed in settling the land and I wanted to do agriculture. That's how we started building the settlement. There was nothing here, not even sewage," Dani recalls.
Agriculture, Hardship, and the Food Stand
Dani ventured into agriculture, growing vegetables and flowers for export. However, the Gulf War brought him to the brink of bankruptcy. To clear his debts, he took over a mobile food kiosk near the Nabi Musa base, selling sandwiches and breakfast to truck drivers coming from Gaza. When the 1995 Oslo Accords led to the closure of local military bases, Dani relocated his kiosk near Highway 1, eventually expanding it into a massive tent restaurant reminiscent of Sinai.
Rebuilding After the Fire
The restaurant operated successfully for 15 years until a devastating electrical fire in 2007 destroyed it entirely. Despite bureaucratic hurdles and difficulties in securing proper insurance compensation, the family rebuilt the venue, now known as "The Last Chance" restaurant. Today, at 85, Dani still comes to work every day, while their daughter manages the business.
Life in the Shadow of War
The ongoing war has heavily impacted tourism, leaving the restaurant operating at only 40% capacity. Yet, family ties remain their anchor. Every Friday, children and grandchildren gather at Dani and Shula's home for couscous, maintaining a sense of normalcy and joy amid uncertainty.
