Home for Pesach

 

When my oldest son entered the army. our family acted as if no one had ever been a soldier before. Proud is not the word. We took pictures, bought presents, sent him off with goodies, and welcomed him with open arms every time he had leave.

His first Pesach we were thrilled to have him home. As the holiday drew near a year later, he warned us not to expect him to get out. I was disappointed but understood. He would be out of the army in the summer and the following year, if all was well, he would be home for Pesach.

Erev Pesach morning of that year, while I was working in the kitchen, I happened to glance out of my window. Walking down the street was a young man in a green uniform. As he drew nearer, I saw he had my son’s gait. Another couple of feet closer and I knew it was my son.

“I don’t believe it!” I shrieked and went flying out of the house and down the street with my apron on and happy tears running down my cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” my son asked, rather alarmed.

“Nothing,” I sniffled. “I’m just so happy to have you home.”

We all were. Since then, I have yet to tell that story to a mother who has a child in the army without her getting teary-eyed.

That was a quarter of a century ago. Now there are so many who won’t be home for Pesach.

My thoughts naturally turn to my neighbor, Ditza Or, whose son, Avitan, has been held in captivity for over six months. I allow myself to daydream of him coming home. Of course, it wouldn’t be a surprise. The whole world will know when the captives are released. Journalists will be all over. And we, the people of Shilo, will stop whatever we are doing and greet him with songs of joy and tears of happiness.

I understand that we have no idea what condition he or any of the other hostages are in. I realize they may never come home. But Pesach is the time of miracles. Just last week The Almighty made a major one saving us from the over 300 projectiles fired at Israel from Iran. He will definitely make more and so I continue to beg and plead for the safe return of all our hostages, soldiers, injured, and evacuees, along with the complete end to evil and full redemption.

Best wishes for the best Pesach ever.

Countless Miracles

 

So many emotions here since Friday afternoon. I entered Shabbat trying to put my concerns for Binyamin Achimeir on the side. Shortly before candle lighting, I’d learned the fourteen-year-old shepherd had been missing since midmorning when his flock returned to the nearby farm without him. Search parties had been looking for him all day. Throughout Shabbat we heard the planes hunting while we said special prayers for him. He was finally found Shabbat afternoon, brutally murdered.

That tragic news became back page when we awoke Sunday morning to learn that Israel had been under attack from Iran all night long. Somehow my husband and I had slept through the sirens, the booms, and the sounds of the Arabs celebrating in the nearby village.

In my opinion, their celebration was nothing short of stupidity. They were in as much danger as we were. In fact, even though most of the over 300 projectiles fired at us were repelled, several did land. One was in the Arab town of Um Fakam and the other in a Bedouin village in the Negev. A young Arab girl was seriously injured.

It was unnerving to know I’d slept through all the attacks, and I felt quite distressed Sunday morning, worrying what the next minute would bring. As the day wore on, I began to appreciate the miracles Hashem had made for us. I ended my day attending a gathering on Zoom along with over 600 others to thank and praise the Almighty for all the good He had shown us.

True, our hostages are still missing, the war hasn’t ended, the Hezbollah threats have not disappeared, numerous of our soldiers are wounded, the evacuees are not home, Binyamin Achimeir and so many others are dead from terror. I can concentrate on all this OR I can give thanks for the tremendous miracles HaShem made for us Saturday night and Sunday morning. I choose the latter.

Now, on to Pesach preparations and more thanks for the countless miracles wrought over the centuries.

Remember

Today is Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first day of the Jewish month that holds Pesach, Passover, the holiday of redemption. What will this Pesach bring? How many families will have empty chairs at their Seder Table?

The world has a short memory.  After six months many have forgotten what caused the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They’ve forgotten the horrifying pictures of families being kidnapped, women being raped, babies being murdered. They’ve forgotten that Hamas rejects every single proposal Israel makes for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire. They have forgotten that there should be no deal at all. All the hostages, from one-year-old Kfir Bibas to Amiram Cooper, aged eighty-four, should be released without any deal because that is basic human decency. They’ve forgotten that Hamas started a war that Israel doesn’t want but we will have to finish because our very survival depends on it.

Please! Make them remember October 7^th! 

SIX MONTHS

Last week I saw a brief report of the Pope’s Easter address in which he called for a cease-fire in the Middle East. Carelessly, I didn’t check to see if there had been more to his speech. Instead, I indignantly demanded on Facebook as to why he hadn’t called for a release of the hostages. Several of my cousins informed me he had. So, I did the responsible thing and admitted my mistake.

There are so many mistakes flying around in cyberspace. Sadly, numerous ones are anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, and full of misinformation. Today marks SIX MONTHS since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, and in one day murdered over 1200 civilians, took more than 250 hostages, raped and tortured dozens more, and fired countless rockets on our cities. Israel retaliated, not for revenge, but for three simple goals. To get our captives back, prevent such a pogrom for ever happening again, and end the rockets.

These facts are missing from so many of the twits and posts. Instead, they focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, blaming Israel instead of Hamas. However, an end to the crisis is solely in that terrorist group’s hands. They can return the hostages who have been held in captivity for SIX MONTHS and pledge to end the rocket fire on Israel. A recognition of our right to exist would go a long way also.

I was able to admit my mistake. Why can’t they? Of course, I consider myself a responsible person who truly wants true peace. Somehow, I don’t think Hamas and their supporters share my goals.

 

Yesterday I awoke to the headline that Israel was poised to release 700 terrorists in return for 40 of the over 100 Israeli civilians held hostage in Gaza. I long for all the hostages, especially my children’s friends, to return home. My car and my purse bear yellow ribbons. Morning, afternoon, and evening I pray for their release. Still, that headline troubled me. Was it too high of price to pay? What terror would the released criminals perpetuate against Israel, and the rest of the world? How many more terrorist would be encouraged to take more captives?

This morning, I learned that there was nothing to be troubled about. Hamas had rejected the plan, deeming Israel was not making enough concessions. Not enough? Why should Israel be offering anything? Human decency demands the freeing of civilian hostages. If the UN wants a ceasefire, they should make sure the hostages are released immediately without any deals or brokering.

Please, take the time to call or write the White House, your senator, and representatives telling them it is unfathomable that The United States did not veto that resolution yesterday. Do it as if your life depended on it. It might.

 Am I obtuse, totally naïve, or did I misunderstand the news? Britain wants to put an arms embargo on Israel if we don’t allow Red Cross representatives to visit detained terrorists? What about Red Cross reps visiting one-year-old Kfar Babis held captive in Gaza for 166 days? How about checking on the other 133 hostages? Does the world have a double standard? Me too unless you’re a Jew? Please world, wake up, see the truth.

 

Today it is thirteen years and a week since our family was blessed with our seventh grandchild. Our joy was limitless, and we looked forward eagerly to the baby’s brit. He did not come home from the hospital straight to Itamar, the village where his family lives. Rather, he and his mother went to his maternal grandparents. His father, siblings, my husband, and I joined them for the baby’s first Shabbat.

At the same time we were celebrating his birth, tragedy struck Itamar. Arab terrorists armed with knives and hate infiltrated the village. They entered the Fogel’s home and brutally murdered Rav Ehud, the father, Rut, his wife, and three of their six children. Yoav was eleven years old, Elad was four, and baby Naomi was only three months old.

Our mourning was limitless as we prepared for the funerals. Four days later our grandson was ushered into the covenant of Avraham and was given a name that had the initials of Rav Ehud, Rut, Yoav, and Elad.

My daughter-in-law has kept a connection going with Tali Ben Ishi, Rut’s mother, ever since. It was only natural that as our grandson’s Bar Mitzvah drew close the two women would speak. Tali requested that my daughter-in-law share some of her words with the ladies of Itamar. And so, after our grandson read from the Torah and the last Kaddish recited, my daughter-in-law gathered the women together. She read the letter Rut’s mother had prepared. I have taken the liberty of translating and sharing it with you.

To the loved and dear women of Itamar, this week, full of majesty before Purim, is the week our children, Rav Ehud, Rut, and their children, Yoav, Elad, and Hadas, hy’d, left this world in a sacred storm and went up to the holy palace of the people of Israel.

It is my privilege to bless you with much light and joy. Rut loved the village of Itamar so much! She would always tell us about your good character traits, especially the simplicity that was dear to her.

I miss Ruti so much and I’m sure you do too. As her mother, I want to hug you and wish for you to always see good and joy in your homes in Itamar and all of Israel.  May you be blessed with blessings from heaven and earth and merit soon to go up, all of us, as one person, to the house of HaShem and cry out in a loud voice “HaShem is G-d, HaShem is G-d”.  

Thirteen years ago, the country was horrified by the cold-blooded murder of the Fogels. How could anyone, even the most depraved terrorist, take a knife in his hand and knowingly stab a three-month-old baby to death. Now, 164 days into the current war, we have learned that was not an anomaly. Children, elderly, teenagers, men, and women were not killed by collateral damage on October 7^th. Just like the Fogels, they were murdered in cold blood. That is why we must fight this war until the end. May we all be inspired by Tali Ben Ishi’s strength and faith.