A MESSAGE FROM ISRAEL
I tear up reading this amazing list about about our amazing people, our amazing country.
As dark as October 7 was … was as light as the days thereafter … Mi K’Amcha Yisrael
360,000 reservists called up. 450,000 actually show up.
5 weddings, 2 bar mitzvahs and an upsherin — all on a single army base in the course of a few weeks.
$250,000.00 donated by a single donor to fund flights to Israel for reserve soldiers returning home.
Thousands of Tzitzit, Tehillim books and siddurim donated.
Countless volunteer kitchens and “chamals” operating around the clock to feed and tend to the needs of soldiers and displaced citizens.
Dozens of Tel Aviv restaurants turning their kitchens kosher overnight so as to be able to feed all soldiers.
Thousands upon thousands of volunteers doing things like barbecuing, baking, laundry, dismantling sukkahs, putting up sukkahs, hospital visits and farming. One couple I met undertook to return the hastily parked cars of reserve soldiers to their spouses wherever they live, including in one case, at the other end of the country.
The soldiers who showed up at their fallen commander’s house to accompany his young children to their first day of school.
The elementary school that gave out “appreciation certificates” to recognize the unique sacrifices that children have been making while their parents are away on reserve duty.
The lone soldier who posted a request for a DJ for his wedding only to get 15 responses within minutes.
The family of a bride who wanted to hire a photographer who recently returned from an extended miluim (and needed work) for their daughter’s wedding only to discover that the groom’s parents had already hired him.
The bereaved father who donated 100 engagement rings for IDF soldiers. The jeweler in Bnei Brak who gifted 42 pieces of jewelry to soldiers to give to their wives on Pesach.The engineers who volunteer their time to retrofit homes to suit the needs of injured soldiers.
The teachers, who are themselves displaced, who show up everyday to teach the children of displaced communities.
The Boyaner Chassidim who deliver cholent and cake to soldiers every week.
Hundreds of flower bouquets delivered to mothers whose children are in the army over Shabbats and holidays — a project started by the family of a fallen soldier to honor their son or the project by another family of a fallen soldier to bring gift baskets to the hospital bedsides of new mothers, also to honour their son.
Israel welcomed 31,000 new citizens during a year of war and she also welcomed many newborns named Be’eri, Oz, Erez, Nova, Nir, Arnon and Hersh.
Countless Torah scrolls have been commissioned and countless siyums and learning have taken place.
We are truly an amazing and resilient people.
Speaking about people… over the last 365 days, we have been privileged to meet some pretty amazing people doing some pretty incredible and important things for Israel and the Jewish people.
We had the privilege of meeting the greatest generation since the days of the Maccabees — the men and women of the IDF and we got to know the faces and stories of the people they are fighting hard to bring home.
We also met the students in universities around the world who stood strong in the face of adversity, defended Jewish honour, the State of Israel and her soldiers with passion and determination.
We have tried to learn as many stories as possible of those who were murdered and those who have fallen and we have tried to comfort the bereaved as best as we could.
The horrific images and stories of October 7th are forever engrained in our collective hearts and minds. However, it is the inspiring stories and legacies of the days that followed will propel our people forward.
As the simple egg says — together we will win.
I have no doubt. 🪖💪🇮🇱👆🎗️
Mi K’Amcha Yisrael
What a beautiful recounting here! Very true and truly inspiring! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!