When she was a youngster growing up in the Israeli city of Givatayim, Ettie Berkovitch Goldstein remembers seeing women in her community knitting hats for soldiers fighting in the Yom Kippur War.
About a month ago, that poignant memory from a half-century ago came rushing back to Goldstein — a Baltimore resident for the past 37 years — after watching a TV news report about a woman in the town of Petah Tikva knitting headwear for Israeli soldiers serving in Gaza and northern Israel. “I figured, ‘Why not?’ Goldstein said.
Since then, Goldstein has been the force behind Operation Kovah, a network of nearly 200 knitters from around the nation who knit or crochet hats and neck warmers for Israeli soldiers in Gaza and along the northern border with Lebanon.
“It’s a simple item, but it’s so important,” says Goldstein, a knitter herself who served in the Israel Defense Forces. “Winter is cold, especially up in the north. It’s an item they need right now. Our soldiers are freezing. Miluim [reservists] in particular need hats and scarves. Many go to Gaza with just one pair of socks and a hat.”
In the past three-and-a-half weeks, Operation Kovah (the Hebrew word for hat) has produced and transported more than 800 garments to Israel.
“It’s been a humongous success,” says Goldstein, who is self-employed. “So many people want to help, so they purchase the materials for the hats and neck warmers. I get packages at my door every day. The Amazon and UPS guys are here all the time, telling me I cleaned out their trucks.”
A mother of three and grandmother of two (with another grandchild on the way), Goldstein coordinates all of Operation Kovah’s endeavors from the Mount Washington home she shares with her husband, Thomas.
“I’ve been consumed with the news [out of Israel since Oct. 7],” says Goldstein, the daughter of Holocaust survivor parents. “This has taken a toll on the Jewish people all over, especially Israelis, so creating this baby from nothing has really helped me. I’m good at creating something from nothing.”
Most of the volunteer knitters are recruited through social media and a WhatsApp group created by Goldstein. Many belong to synagogues, Jewish organizations, knitting circles, volunteer outfits and Christian Zionist groups. She sends each volunteer or inquiry a Google Doc detailing the items and materials needed, as well as recommended patterns, YouTube videos and Amazon links.
“I have people sending me stuff from San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York — all over,” Goldstein says. “People really want to help. People who don’t knit buy the materials on Amazon, while other people buy the yarn from local stores and send the goods.”
Each bag for soldiers contains a garment, two Hershey’s Kisses and a personal letter from a Krieger Schechter Day School student.
“Everything is done in a certain way to make it special,” Goldstein says. “It warms your heart to get something like this with a note from a child.”
One IDF soldier named Israel wrote back to Lila, a KSDS student, “I received your letter and wanted to say thank you very much. These letters are very empowering. I am a father of five children, serving as the commander of a Golani company, [and] I have not seen them in over two weeks.
“To receive your letter touched me very much, to know that there are sweet children like you. Thank you for the warm hat.”
Goldstein would like to grow the operation, but what she’s really seeking are travelers to Israel who can transport the garments to “an army of volunteers” in Israel. The volunteers — including Goldstein’s brother — then drive the packages to soldiers near the Gaza and Lebanese borders.
“There’s a lot of logistics involved,” says Goldstein. “From A to Z, it’s all grassroots. A lot of people are going to Israel right now. I need people to make, buy and take the goods to Israel.”
She said she’s already received many letters and videos of gratitude from soldiers. Operation Kovah has also been highly appreciated by the participating volunteers.
“So many people in this country want to do something,” Goldstein says. “It makes them feel good to make something and to help. They feel part of it all, which they are. I get a lot of feedback thanking me for doing this.”
Goldstein says she will continue running Operation Kovah until it is no longer needed. “Then, we can go on to another operation,” she says.
For information about Operation Kovah, email Goldstein at ettiebg10@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/ettie.
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