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There is a very well-known Midrash that states that each generation has thirty-six anonymous Tzadikim who sustain the world. Although we have no idea of the identity of these Tazdikim, there is no doubt in my mind that on our solidarity mission to Israel this week we encountered a number of very special people who are sustaining Israel during this time of crisis.
The first very impressive individual that we met, is a man who does so much, one wonders when he sleeps. Alex Katz, together with his wife, Rachel, have earned the respect and admiration of all who work with them. As soon as the war began, Alex planned on driving a Hatzalah ambulance down south but was informed he wasn’t needed for that purpose. By the second day, all of this changed and he actually drove his ambulance to help save lives by transporting the wounded to the hospital.
Right after Covid ended, Alex helped create a community called Kehillat Eretz Hemda in Jerusalem. Some of his community members joined him in establishing the Kehillat Eretz Hemda Chessed Organization that has helped purchase and distribute much needed equipment, clothing, and medical supplies to soldiers. He has spearheaded the campaign, making tens of thousands of Tzitzit for both observant and non-observant soldiers, and supplying them with Tefillin and Mezuzot as well. Alex has literally stopped working and now devotes all his time to running this massive Chessed operation, taking care of the soldiers and individual families in need.
Alex generously reached out to his many contacts to enrich our mission. Through his strong connections, we were able to meet some very impressive and selfless people who helped us gain a true inside appreciation for what this war really entailed.
We started our mission directly from the airport by visiting the Shura Army Camp where the Rabbinate of the IDF is located. It was at Shura where we met another very special individual, Rabbi Bentzy Mann, who is involved in the very difficult job of identifying bodies of both soldiers who died in battle, and civilians who were killed by the terrorists. Rabbi Mann is part of the IDF Chevra Kadisha and his work is a true Kiddush Hashem. An extremely moving moment occurred while joining the Chevra Kadisha in reciting Kaddish beside the Aron of a 20-year-old soldier who was making his final journey to the cemetery in his home town.
After visiting the Shura Army Camp we met Galia Hoshen, the mother of Hadar Hoshen HY”D who was killed on the first day of the war. Hadar served as a Bat Sheirut Leumi at Maimonides in 2014-15. Listening to Galia, who a number of years ago became a widow when her 42-year-old husband died, cope with this new tragedy was inspiring for everyone to hear.
On Tuesday, we met the fearless Yoni Shapira who volunteers for United Hatzalah and now directs the southern operation of Hatzalah. Yoni has devoted his life to saving lives through his work at Hatzalah. He shared with us his horrific experiences of when he drove an ambulance to try to save lives on the initial days of the war after the terrorists penetrated the Kibbutzim and communities near Gaza.
From there, we traveled to the city of Sderot, the largest city near Gaza where we met two very special people, Rab Nachum Nagar, a Rav of a community in Sderot, and Odelia Ben Porat, a woman who has devoted her life to help the disadvantaged in Sderot. Rav Nagar together with Odelia gave us an extensive tour of the city which began at a bus stop where 15 elderly citizens were murdered in cold blood. Rav Nagar also showed us the city’s police station that was ambushed by the terrorists and where the city’s 15 policemen were killed. After a bitter battle with the terrorists who blockaded themselves in the station, the IDF decided that the only way to neutralize the terrorists was to totally destroy the building with the terrorists inside. This site gave us a true appreciation of the extensive devastation of October 7.
No matter where we went, Rav Nagar emphasized how so many miracles occurred that saved numerous lives on that fateful Shabbat. His strong faith in God and his indestructible determination that a better tomorrow awaits the Jewish people, was contagious to listen to.
Rav Nagar took us to a Shul that was attacked by the terrorists, but since the Shul was built like a bomb shelter, they had difficulty entering. Miraculously the hand grenade that they threw at the front door did not detonate. Then and there in front of the closed Shul we davened Mincha, demonstrating our determination for the future.
One of the most amazing sites that Rav Nagar and Odelia took us to was the lookout point from where one can see Gaza. Journalists from France and Turkey were situated there, waiting for a good picture or interview. An IDF officer commented to us that although they were very aware that these press agents were reporting negative comments about Israel, it was Israel’s duty to make sure that they should have total freedom to report anything they want, because freedom of speech is a right that Israel cherishes.
After our tour of Sderot we met a remarkable man named Roi, a successful Israeli entrepreneur, at the Gilat Junction. Roi runs a massive hamburger operation where 10,000 Glatt Kosher hamburgers are made for the soldiers to enjoy daily through his organization, “The A Team Iron Swords Association.” The place was swarming with soldiers and entertainers including one of the leading Israeli comedians, Guy Hochman.
One of the most emotional experiences was our visit to Ofakim, where we met a young widow, Esther Bilya, in her home while holding her three-year-old son on her lap. She described how her husband Ariel, sacrificed his life to save his family from the hands of Hamas. After hearing her detailed story, and being informed that no one was saying Kaddish in his memory, I assured her that Kaddish would be recited in our Shul in his memory. Before leaving, we said some Tehilim and I said Kaddish right there for Esther to hear.
We ended our day by meeting a true angel named, Yaakov Cohen. Yaakov decided that he had to leave his small Makolet at the entrance of Ofakim in order to create a little haven for the soldiers at Moshav Maslul, where they could come from Gaza, rest, wash their clothing, shower, be treated to a massage and be fed some delicious food. On our visit, we joined Yaakov as he prepared a BBQ for the soldiers and celebrated his birthday by caring for the soldiers. We helped set up the BBQ and some of our members even helped cook the food.
We knew we would meet heroic soldiers on this mission. We however, were deeply impressed to meet equally heroic civilians.
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