Dear Friends,
This week we have had so many profound encounters as we met with family members of hostages, wounded, many soldiers, and others that our community has helped over the last two years.
Earlier this week, I met up with Avi Ohana, the father of Yosef Chaim Ohana, who is still being held as a hostage. Avi asked me to relay to the community that he is full of hope and faith and he asks us to continue to pray and do Mitzvot on behalf of his son and the other hostages, so that they all experience the miracle they are waiting for.
We stock up on cold drinks on many of the days and have been giving them out to soldiers who are out doing guard duty in remote places out in the sun and heat. Along with the TShirts, gadgets, battery packs and more, and a message of love from Chabad of Sudbury, they are all being very well received.
One of the last stops yesterday was to visit two soldiers in a remote guardpost, thanks to Levi who had been guiding us around for much of the day. The soldiers were extremely appreciative of the gifts and wonderful conversations, even as they tried to figure out. Just minutes before they had been dealing with a drone which was filming their position and they were trying to get to the bottom of it.
Our last stop yesterday was to visit a family who had made Aliya the day before, whose parents are a part of our community,
We have shared lego sets and other gifts with injured soldiers in hospital for either themselves or if they are reservists to give out to their children who are waiting for them at home.
Today we had a meeting with Itai, who lost his arm in an explosion, who our community helped with special gadgets to help in his recovery and to help him be able to work once again. It was a very moving encounter and we look forward to continuing the friendship and hopefully hosting him in Sudbury one day.
The week also included many happy moments including officiating at the wedding of Shaina Rodkin & Sam Roudinski of Boston, in a beautiful venue on a hill overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. The energy of their many army friends made for a very powerful and joyful celebration.
It has been a week of many dozens if not hundreds of conversations, special visits, interactions and more in the Land of Israel.
The streets are packed with life and joy, and the Western Wall last Friday night was the fullest I have ever seen it, and the joy and energy was in the air everywhere.
Thank you to everyone who has lent us a hand in being able to do some of the special visits and projects. We have several more planned for early next week including one or two bigger projects.
In the portion of this week, it talks about the blessings and curses which G-d places before us, the negativity and the positivity, the good and the bad, and how we are encouraged to always find a way to choose blessings over curses, life over death, goodness over badness, and how we can transform and take negativity and turn it around.
In one particular moment on Wednesday, a friend took us to a mountain, where a huge piece of an Iranian Missile which had fallen there, had been setup as a Menorah. Indeed taking a negative weapon and transforming it into a beacon of light and inspiration.
We have a lot to work on as a Jewish people and there is a lot of healing that is needed for so many who have suffered so much in the war. We pray for the release of the hostages and an end to all suffering may it happen very soon.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!!
Yisroel
P.S Thank you to Rabbi & Mrs Mendel Groner who have come to Sudbury to run the services for Shabbat and other times while we are away!