In Israel, we are accustomed to an intensely sad Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) that is followed by an intensely joyous Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day). However, the memorial ceremonies of October 7th, were not followed by a day of celebration. Of course not. Israel is still at war and we have 101 hostages still being held by Hamas terrorists. So many are mourning the loss of loved ones, soldiers and civilians, who were killed or injured. So many are displaced from their homes one year after the beginning of the war, and so many are fighting to recover emotionally and physically.
At the same time, there is a lot of good that has happened this year to remember, to honor, and to hold close to our broken hearts. Israel has always been a resilient country, but it is emerging as a superpower in the region, not only militarily, but also as a society.
On October 7th, many Israelis dropped everything to rush to save those under attack and to fight the Hamas terrorists with great heroism, and tragically, many paid with their lives. Immediately, and throughout this past year, Israelis enlisted not only to fight the war against evil, but also to support all those in need. Israelis knew right away how to jump into action to provide delicious food for the 300,000 reservists whom the army wasn’t initially ready to feed. Soldiers and their families asked for assistance to get the best gear, and the money was raised in Israel and around the world. Israelis, and later friends and Jews from around the world on solidarity trips, signed up to pick fruit and vegetables, in order to help keep agriculture going, despite the difficult conditions and lack of workers. Assistance was provided to tens of thousands of displaced Israelis. Even in some of the most difficult areas of need, purifying bodies for burial, Israelis were there to help out. Friends and supporters around the world have helped enable Israel to secure its communities, recover, and rebuild.
Israel is a country in which there are different opinions on policies, but everyone does agree that helping one another is key to building a strong country. There are so many inspiring stories that have happened throughout the year; here is one from just last week.
Sergeant Meirav has been serving in reserves much of the year since October 7th. She is currently stationed near the border with Gaza guarding the Israeli border communities as part of an elite unit called Yael (Hebrew for Ibex). Just before the Rosh Hashanah holiday, she was let out of her base for a break to go back home. On the way, the Iranians attacked. Meirav and everyone else on the bus heading to Jerusalem got off the bus to seek shelter. As there was no actual bomb shelter in sight, they knocked on the door of a house where they were all immediately invited to crowd inside for protection. This is Israel! Dozens of different people knocked on a random door (which happened to be an ultra-orthodox family) and they were warmly welcomed to stay for the hour-long rocket attack. Meirav explained, “Some were praying and some were dancing. You have an hour to be together; you can’t just sit and be afraid.” For Meirav, this was only the beginning of a remarkable series of events.
After one hour, everyone got back on the bus, and Meirav was happy to reach home to shower and spend time with her family. However, by the next morning, she was called by her commander who said that some of the guys who were supposed to stay on base were moved to the north because things are heating up there as we are going into Lebanon. He told her that they actually needed her back on base. Although she was disappointed she wouldn’t be spending the holiday with her family, she was happy to return anytime she is needed to serve. She asked her father for a ride and he said, “Your brother just called.” It turned out that her brother was surprisingly being let out of the army for the holiday, so she set out with her father for the two hour drive back to her base and he would pick up her brother who had been serving in Gaza for the last month and a half. As her father said, “It works out.”
Meirav arrived to her base where they were cooking and cleaning and planning to make the best of being away from home for the holiday. About 2 1/2 hours before chag (the holiday), a higher level commander realized that Meirav was on base, but actually wasn’t needed. It turned out that they had enough other soldiers there. He offered to drive her half way home if her father could meet her on the way. She wanted to return home, but being a religious Jew, from a religious family, she didn’t want to ask her father to drive back down which could involve driving on the holiday which, like on Shabbat, is not allowed according to Jewish law generally except for emergency situations. That close to the holiday, the buses had already stopped running in Israel, so Meirav was ok with staying on base for the holiday, even though she had heard that another of her brothers who is also serving in the army would also be home. She didn’t want her family to start the holiday in a stressful way with rushing to pick her up, and although soldiers are sometimes allowed according to Jewish law to drive on Shabbat/chag, she didn’t feel she needed that leniency.
Meanwhile, a local family who brought food for the holiday for the soldiers, walked in. They overheard the conversation. Immediately, Chani said, “take our car.” For Meirav, they were almost complete strangers. They had by chance moved to the border community exactly one year before, just around October 7th. So, they decided they wanted to spend these holidays with the soldiers to show their appreciation to them and to God for the miracle of them surviving the massacre. Thinking it over, Meirav decided to take them up on their generous offer.
Meirav drove 2 ½ hours, amazed by their pure kindness, and arrived to her home, just moments before Rosh Hashanah candlelighting…her family was surprised and thrilled.
This is just one example of the chesed, loving kindness in Israel that helps create a superpower society. And, of course, the determination of Israeli soldiers and reservists like Meirav to be there for whatever is needed to protect the nation, is key.
