Aryeh & Peninah Meisels are a bereaved couple from Kiryat Ata in Israel, who lost their son in the IDF several years ago. The last few weeks have brought to the surface a lot of painful memories of their own son, so they decided to go abroad for a few days to get away from the terror and rockets. Imagine their shock upon returning to their home in Israel this week, when they discovered that their home had been hit, not by a rocket, but by a burglary.
They walked around their home and realized that their bedroom had been turned upside down, their drawers had been opened, and a burglar had obviously broken in and been rummaging around their home. The couple were very upset, and walked around their home to see if things were missing, and what he may have stolen. With trepidation they walked into the untouched room of their deceased son who was killed in the IDF, to see what had happened in his room and if any of his personal belongings had been taken. Imagine their surprise when they saw that it was untouched as it had been and the picture of their son along with his rifle was in its place along with all of his other personal items.
They were relieved that at least that stuff hadn’t been touched, yet they were even more surprised when they found an apology note from the burglar for the break-in. He wrote that he broke in with the intention to steal, yet when he walked into the untouched room of their son who had been killed, he realized that it was a bereaved family’s home and he stopped in his tracks. He wrote that there was no way in the world that he could bring himself to steal and hurt a bereaved family who lost their son while defending the Jewish people and he was going to leave without stealing. While he didn’t clean up the mess he had made, he did leave a note saying sorry for the break-in and asking them for forgiveness.
In typical Israeli fashion, the parents who were upset at what had happened but also touched by his note and sympathies, declined to press charges.
Even an Israeli thief got it and understood that this was a special home of someone who had paid the ultimate sacrifice for his people and was not a place to mess around with. The thief got it, business may be business and stealing may be stealing, but there are some things that are deeper and more important than business. The thief was reminded that life is about bigger and better things than just stealing, he understood that there are values that infinitely supersede everything else. While on a normal business day he may forget about the bigger picture, the photos and memory of this young IDF soldier jolted him back to reality and enabled him to see the bigger picture and purpose of life.
Life as we know it has its regular patterns and monotonous cycles of life and Jewish communal life, in which we are at times consumed by our divisions and differences and perhaps caught up in details of life that are not of the most important nature. Then suddenly, we are jolted back to reality, a bloody war hits our people, and people are being killed, kidnapped and wounded every day. There are anti-Semitic protests every other day, and media and politicians seem to enjoy the dual narrative of blaming the cruel Jews who murder indiscriminately, and enjoying seeing the weak Jews who can’t beat the terror. Each morning brings bad news and everyone we know is caught up with this in one way or another. We grit our teeth, we cry, and we pray for Israel
Yet precisely in the midst of this dark and ominous cloud, rays of light are shining through that are jolting us awake to become a people on fire. An unprecedented unity has overtaken Israel and its ripple effects have been felt in Jewish communities around the world. The external differences are gone, and in its place stand a united people upholding truth, morality and real human rights in the face of hate and evil. Each passing day is painful and difficult, yet despite that, each day is revealing a stronger and more determined people united in their mission of truth, peace and our responsibilities to the world. The thief from Kiryat Ata was jolted back to a higher vision and cause, and around the world this is taking place all the time.
It is a battle on the ground, it is a battle of public opinion and politicians, and it is also a battle for us as we remember to be beacons of the truth and goodness that we are here to accomplish. I hope that the pureness and innocence that the thief from Kiryat Atta felt, will be felt by the public, by the media, and by the leaders and politicians who need to stand by Israel’s side during these difficult days.
This Shabbos is known as Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat when we read about Isaiah’s Vision regarding Israel and the Jewish People. In Chassidic thought, this Shabbat is also a time when we are reminded of the vision of a better future, and of a world that will eventually achieve its redemption. It’s true; it may seem far off and distant and at times like these it is a difficult concept to think of, yet on Shabbos Chazon we remind ourselves of the true reality of life, of the larger picture and of the hope and goal of a better tomorrow.
I end off with a prayer for Israel and for the brave young men of the IDF, that they succeed in their mission of crushing the terrorists and restoring safety and security to Israel and the innocents who are caught up in this. I hope and pray that all those who are wounded will be fully healed and the missing IDF Soldier, Hadar Goldin will be returned safely to his family and bride.
Shabbat Shalom to all of Am Yisroel!
Yisroel Freeman