Each Darkaynu participant has been adopted by a local family from Gush Etzion and is welcomed into their home for dinner one night a week, for Shabbat meals or just to hang out.

As noted by Darkaynu counselor Shalom Ozarowski “This is the first time these boys have ever been away from home, so knowing that surrogate parents, brothers and sisters are just around the corner or a phone call away helps ease the separation. They feel like true family members, helping with household projects or just with the clearing up after dinner, all of which provides them with a feeling of comfort and a tremendous confidence boost.”