Yachad Nenatzei'ach - Together We Will Win!

During three powerful days in Israel, I saw pain, sadness, confusion, kindness, purpose, heroism, and unity.

The slogan for this war is "Yachad Nenatzei'ach," which means "Together, we will win." It is plastered everywhere - on streets, on buildings and in the corner of all TV broadcasts. In a sense, there is more unity than Israelis - and Jews in general - have experienced in a long while. Unity is a key to moving forward to the next chapter of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. 

 

During the First World War, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe, was approached by a group of elder Chasidim to declare that repentance alone can remedy the harsh troubles the Jews were experiencing. They were hoping such a statement would implicitly condemn the non-observant. The Rebbe refused stating, “The main thing is that Jews should love one another…This is what our salvation depends on.”

 

Here are some reflections of my experiences.

Shortly after checking in on Monday, I got a taste of reality. An announcement on the hotel PA system of a rocket alert and to head towards a protected area of the hotel. I know some people who were out for lunch. They heard similar announcements and were directed to the nearest shelter before the all-clear allowed them to finish their meal.

           

I am pleased to be in Israel at the same time as my brother, the other Rabbi Weinstock from Hollywood, Florida. We both have sons in their second year of study at Yeshivot in Israel. I’m proud of the boys who have kept up their schedule of Torah study and Chesed activities. As I’ve mentioned, it’s all part of our wartime responsibilities.

I spent some time studying at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in the Old City and got to see some of our AB scholars. I went to the Kotel for prayers. I call it my “Jerusalem office” and took advantage of a few quiet minutes to contact and thank elected officials for their strong support of Israel straight from the scene.

When leaving the Kotel, I encountered an interesting group gathered in the back of the plaza. There was a group of older reservists along with families. There was a man making announcements thanking the soldiers and someone playing inspirational songs on the guitar. The groups commander made a few remarks and then everyone sang Hatikvah to end the program.

I went up to the guitarist, told him I had just come from America and asked what was going on. First, he thanked me for coming to support them. Then he explained the soldiers were part of a medical unit including doctors who were training in Jerusalem before heading to the front. The families were among those relocated to Jerusalem from the south. Their organization took them on day trips and arranged fun activities for the children and ended the day at the Kotel. I thought this was just one small group of hundreds of thousands of citizens like this and one initiative among thousands of people trying to help. I know I’ll see other examples during the next few days.

We started Tuesday at Shalva, an amazing organization that supports and empowers individuals with special needs and their families. They've opened their doors to displaced families in need of their expertise and they are prepared to host up to 1,000 people if need be. Zion Leshem introduced us to the families of Moshav Naveh, located 6 miles from Gaza and 2 miles from Egypt, who were evacuated on Oct. 9 and moved into the Shalom Hotel next door. Large families are cramped into small rooms, and Shalva has offered facilities for the families for classes and activities and to let them spread out a little.

Shalva also stepped up to host a group of girls from Eden Karmia on Kibbutz Karmia, a loving home near the Gaza Border for deeply traumatized teenage girls who have been removed from their families due to abuse and neglect. While, thankfully, they were not on site on 10/7, the only stability they know was destroyed and Shalva has given them a floor to recreate their safe space and get back to a routine. The gratitude from everyone was palpable. Shalva, as its name translates, is providing respite for people in need.

We visited the Jerusalem Command Center, a volunteer organization working to meet the needs of the over 30,000 evacuees in Jerusalem. What started with one table at Noon on Oct. 7, has grown to over 5,000 volunteers helping provide food, clothes, books, toys, and anything you can think of. The center - and those like it in other cities housing evacuees - is called a "Chamal," which stands for "cheder milchama," war room.

 

Great effort goes into maintaining people's dignity. People don't just want to be given boxes. People want to peruse and try on clothes or play with the toys a little before deciding to get them. So the Chamal set up a store with a special sign and "salespeople" to assist. Every person registers for assistance with an intake interview. Just because a person asks for baby formula doesn't mean that's all they need. The volunteers are trying to work as helpfully and effectively as possible. Chamal is a perfect name for this effort. As chamal in Hebrew means compassion. That's what's being offered in abundance.

We traveled to Kibbutz Ma'ale HaHamisha near Jerusalem where evacuees from Netiv Ha'asara and Zikim near Gaza are staying in the hotel there. Both communities fought off terrorists and suffered losses on 10/7. Rivka, who has lived in Netiv Ha'asara for 32 years, and Yael, a mother of three whose husband was one of the first children born there told their harrowing stories from that "Black Sabbath." We know the broad outline of sirens, shelter, sounds of shooting, but it's different hearing directly from those who experienced it. Rivka told how her retired husband, who relinquished his rifle a few years ago, ventured out of the shelter to grab a knife and a baseball bat. Yael remained with her children and was joined by neighbors and in-laws while her husband joined the security group fighting off the terrorists. There is a lot of anger and pain along with gratitude.

We traveled to the Dead Sea. The Tamar Region has about 1,400 residents and is now housing about 15,000 evacuees. Many are from Sderot as well as one hotel hosting many of the families from Kibbutz Be'eri which suffered tremendous losses on 10/7. The goal is to provide some sense of normalcy and routine while also giving people some R&R. They're putting on concerts, arranging carnivals, and having celebrity visits.

The hotel hosting residents of Kibbutz Be'eri has turned into a community. They've created a memorial to those murdered and a vigil for those missing and captured. They're setting up spaces to process and mourn. Some are painting portraits of those murdered. There is profound and deep gratitude for our visit. During these difficult times, the hug of Jews from America is especially meaningful. I think it's a good time for anyone who can to consider a visit to Israel.

Rachel Goldberg and Jonathan Polin are the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was attending the music festival that was attacked by terrorists on 10/7. As far as they know (and Anderson Cooper provided video footage), Hersh lost an arm in the attack and was seen getting on a truck, and his cell phone emitted a signal from Gaza. They have been working tirelessly to tell Hersh's story and enlist the world to bring him and all the hostages home. (You can learn all about these efforts by searching #BringHershHome.)

 

We know all too well the pain of these situations - Gilad Shalit, Hadar Goldin. When asked what we can do, Rachel responded:

- Pray for Hersh Ben Perel Chana

- Post about the hostages to raise awareness 

- Encourage others outside the Jewish community to do the same. This is a humanitarian issue with hostages from 30+ countries including 9 Muslim hostages.

 

Rachel said she gets asked over and over, "What's the update?" She answers, "There is no update!" Sometimes we must live with there being no progress while doing the best we can. She has started wearing a very visible sign with the number of days it has been since Hersh disappeared and encouraged others to intentionally count these days. She compared it to counting the omer or Rosh Chodesh. Keeping time is important and memorable. 

 

We concluded by reciting Tehillim 121, a favorite of Rachel's, and singing Acheinu together. Jon mentioned that when Hersh was in first grade in Jewish day school in Virginia, he always belted out Acheinu while encouraging those around him to put their arms around each other.

As the ground battle in Gaza escalates, 16 IDF soldiers have been killed in the campaign. We went to Har Herzl for the funeral of Staff Sgt. Lavi Lipshitz, 20, from Modiin, who served in the Givati Infantry Brigade’s reconnaissance unit. It was very crowded, and, it rained heavily as if the heavens were mourning. What can be said? A lovely kid, a hero, who died for Israel and the Jewish People. Yet his family carries forward to honor his sacrifice. Yehi Zichro Baruch.

 

We traveled to Yad Binyamin and visited with Rabbi Doron Perez, the head of Mizrachi, his soldier son Yonatan, and 15 year-old daughter Shira. Another son, Daniel, has been missing since fighting on 10/7. Yonatan, a paratrooper commander, was shot in the leg on 10/7. While recovering, he and his fiancé decided to go ahead with their planned wedding on October 17. He was returning to his unit tonight. When asked what gives him the strength and encouragement to go back to his unit after being wounded and getting married, he said it's "the unbelievable power and strength of Am Yisrael. I believe in my path and my role as a commander of 135 soldiers." He went on to say that's it's difficult to fight with rules and morals while the enemy doesn't value life. But that's what Jews do. 

Shira, a friend of our daughter Yakira from Camp Stone, said taking action is the best path forward. Teenagers should do things like acts of chesed or supporting community initiatives to stay positive about Israel. There's too much bad news out there online and on social media. Taking action provides clarity and strengthens love for Israel. Rav Doron concluded our visit by noting that "HaShem has given us a matana, an opportunity to change direction." This is a chance for us to be one nation. "People who affirm and love life and see the image of God in all humans will prevail over those who embrace death."

 

Our last stop Wednesday evening was with the Brothers for Life organization in Kfar Truman, about 20 minutes from the airport. The organization provides care and support for wounded soldiers. They engage with them from the time they are treated in the hospital and stick with them throughout the long road to recovery. Their job, unfortunately, is getting a lot bigger. We heard from formerly injured soldiers of how this brotherhood and support saved their lives as they went on to degrees, families, and productive lives. The slogan of the organization, carved in stone on the entrance, is "U'vacharta ba'chaim - Choose life" (Devarim 30:19). I can't think of a better motto for Israel and the Jewish nation. Despite it all - and even amidst the death and destruction, we choose life.

 

The UJA mission may have ended Wednesday evening, but I got to spend Thursday with a dear friend and Chesed machine Dr. Shilo Kramer who works at ADI Negev. Starting with a sunrise service at the Kotel, we made a number of stops witnessing, listening, volunteering, and even celebrating.

Our first stop was Ofakim in which terrorists murdered 50 Israelis. We drove along the route the terrorists traveled as they entered the village. Their decision to go one way and not the other meant a densely packed neighborhood of Orthodox Jews who were out celebrating Simchat Torah were spared. We saw the remnants of burned cars, bullet-riddled walls, and memorials to fallen heroes. One woman showed us the bullet that came through her bathroom wall. We saw the house in which Rachel stalled the terrorists for 20 hours until help arrived.

 

There was also joy at the Bar Mitzvah of Akiva Butzchak. His father, Rav Shachar, a rabbi in Ofakim, heroically battled the terrorists and was seriously wounded. Thank God, he recovered in time to enjoy the nachas and joy of the occasion with his family. JCAB had a share in the Simcha as our Israel Emergency Relief Fund contributed support and materials for the Ofakim Response Unit. 

 

Throughout our travels, we had a chance to meet with soldiers and distribute food, thanks, and love. They so appreciated all three and were very moved to be visited by Jews from America. I even met one chayal with family in Long Beach. It’s a small Jewish world!

The war has thrown a huge monkey wrench into the agricultural industry. Foreign workers are returning home with many others in the army and Palestinian laborers not a feasible option now. Volunteers are stepping forward but so much still needs to be done. At Moshav Patish, I had the chance to pitch in harvesting cabbages with a diverse group which included secular Jews from Tel Aviv, chareidim, and even Druze participants. It’s one Israel for all of us!