The first day at the Chabad on Campus Kinus in Israel started just as soon as we landed basically, so not on much sleep. Ben Gurion Airport seemed kind of quiet but full of welcoming signs and slogans, some quite meaningful, but little time to take photos as we were hurried along. One sign I had no choice but to stop and take a photo: The bottom sign said Welcome in Hebrew, English and Arabic (as many Israeli signs do) but above it in Hebrew script font was the words: LHargish Shayach – to feel like you belong. What beautiful words!
Before we landed, an earlier group of Campus Shluchim already in Israel met that first morning with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in his office. Probably will be more about that visit later.
We met Yossi Witkes, beloved and energetic Chabad on Campus trip and Israel coordinator, at the airport in IDF uniform, and we boarded buses to Kfar Chabad. Of course, even the bus rides themselves, the road-signs, familiar places, the sweeping views through the windows, and the adept intuitive able driving by Israeli bus-drivers. There were super tight spots they deftly manipulated the bus through, man – their incredible spatial intelligence and awareness of their surroundings (has to be a lesson right there).
KFAR CHABAD
Kfar Chabad (not far from Ben-Gurion Airport and Tel-Aviv) is Chabad’s Headquarters in Israel. Founded in 1949, the village is now 75 years old, spreading light and all kinds of services throughout Israel with many programs hosted there all the time. We learned about the mass amount of Shmurah Matzah and Etrogim shipped out from here to all over the world, the many publications printed here, the amount of Torah and Mezuah and Tefillin scribes, the programming hosted here for many groups from all over Israel. Kfar Chabad was home to one of Israel’s first vocational schools, called Beit Sefer L’Mlacha. During and after the Chernoybel nuclear diaster it hosted thousands of children here. You know the saying “it takes a village”? Kfar Chabad is a village that gets a whole lot done.
Our first stop in Kfar Chabad was the Parnassaim Hall of Beit Shazar which serves as the main offices and reception area for Tzach (Lubavitch Youth Org) in Israel. Quite the spread there for a welcoming lunch, with all types of salads and delicasies, including tasty artisanal made on the spot in gas-fired pizza ovens.
Then we walked over to the “770 Replica” built pretty much as an identical copy to the Rebbe’s 770 in Brooklyn in only 45 days back in 1985. For Chassidim nostalgic for Rebbe’s 770 from afar, it recreates some of that space and atmosphere in an open sun-baked field in Israel. We learned about the Russian-trained Chassidic architect who went to NY to do lots of measurement as 770 had no extant blueprints. Of course we took a group picture in front, but the third flight of Shluchim from New York hadn’t arrived yet. In the basement there’s a huge Seforim Store of Kehot Publications, at prices far better than NY, but how to shlep some many books home… my bus seat companion did!
COLLEGE IN KIRYAT ONO
After Kfar Chabad the buses took us to Ono College, in Kiryat Ono, near Ohr Yehudah. The college founder and CEO/President Ranaan Hartman (who also shared his own personal background) spoke to us about his vision in founding this school which is especially geared to and eager to offer educational opportunities to those who might be missing out on Israel’s economic experience, such as Chareidi or Arab communities or those not suited for a full University experience. He shared that as Chabad does with Judaism, offering opportunities without judgement, Ono seeks to do the same with Israeli economic opportunity. And that’s one reason why he was excited to have an easy accessible ground floor Chabad on Campus built into the brand-new gorgeous 7-floor massive facility they just built. He wants Ono students to be able to see and appreciate a Chabad that welcomes and serves all, regardless of their personal level of observance etc.
THE SHEBA HOSPITAL
From Ono, we got back onto the buses (lots of travel built into this type of Kinus) and drive to Sheba Hospital Rehabilitation, where many wounded soldiers are recovering and dealing with their battle wounds and handicaps. They played a video of Dr. Shani, a former director of Sheba, who shared his Yechidus with the Rebbe on medicine and how ahead of the times the Rebbe was regarding: patient empowerment in their own care, the concern that technology (then only emerging) not interfere with the critical doctor-patient human relationship, and the key role attitude and the spirit of the patient plays in his/her recovery. And of course, Rebbe’s oft-repeated request that hospitals not be called House of the Sick, rather House of Healing.
You walk into Sheba’s main lobby and there’s visible scar wounds of Israel’s war. You don’t need to be a medical expert to see it, its obvious and evident. In an auditorium just off the main lobby we heard from Saar, Maayan and Elisha, all married all fathers, all in their 30’s. These were officers or commanders. One thing about the IDF is the cry of “Acharei!” (follow me or after me!) they don’t command from the rear or from a distance, but from the front lines, ahead of their troops.
Saar was serving up in the north, an alarm went off for a missile attack and this one was not intercepted by the Iron Dome. It hit directly in the path Saar was headed toward a Safe Room, but thankfully he went to another Safe Room off to the right. Something pulled him that way. But he got dozens or was it hundreds of pieces of shrapnel that required multiple surgeries and therapies and treatments, and its a miracle (and tons of care) that got him to be where he is today. He spoke a lot about how his dreams for his wife and son pulled him through. He shared this: The first time after the incident that he truly felt alive was when his wife came to the hospital and it was Friday Night and they made Kiddush, and hearing that, and wanting to have many more Friday Nights and to say the Kiddush… it was his pinch-me I’m alive feeling.
Maayan served for many years in the IDF, and finally went off with his family to India to pursue economic dreams and became highly sucessful in business there. When October 7th happened, hearing the news that Simchat Torah, he didn’t think, he didn’t plan, he just hopped onto a plane (had to take several actually) to go back to Israel. His wife and kids stayed in India but he reached out to old army friends and went back into a unit to fight. He jumped back into leading a combat engineering battalion, in the heart of the battles in Gaza, and one day one of his men was hit and killed by a RPG and took a hit for the whole battalion because further behind was a truck with lots of explosives that could have caused much more death. But in the fight to rescue the men, Maayan was critically wounded. He spoke of how much this brought out in him, how connected it made in him feel, and how Chabad on Campus helps Jews all over the world strengthen their Jewish pride and connection, especially in such adversarial times and places. Coming from India himself in this situation, he realizes the need and importance to fight this battle as well, and for Jews to be stronger & more connected everywhere and anywhere.
Elisha was last. He was in a wheelchair, he lost his legs. When first hearing of the attacks, especially with his in-laws in one of the Kibbutzim, he rushed out, called friends, got into the action, fending off terrorists in Sderot. They even saw the footprints of shoes alongside dragged barefoot going into Gaza, and many more traumatic things. Once the war began served in front units. They once got intelligence of a Hamas unit trying to attack via a tunnel, they set up a counter-ambush but the explosion by the terrorists collapsed the house. Soldiers worked furiously to extricate them and the survivors were brought to be cared from in a captured mosque by medics. Elisha felt himelf dying, his legs cut off in the explosion, and his close dear freind Yossi dying next to him, and him losing breath and strength, and almost will to live. When he came to himself much later in a hospital, after multiple surgeries and continued rehab care he feels that a superpower pulled him through, a power much greater than himself, which he didn’t have on his own, and he feels this is the prayers and feelings of connection from Jews all around the world, praying and caring for him and other wounded soldiers. He’s hoping to get prosthetic legs and to be able to continue for his family, for Israel.
Hard to convey what was heard in that room, but for us it was so uplifting to hear and see their incredible resilience, their faith, their feeling of something that keeps them going. And how unbelievable it was for them to say how much it means to them that we, too, the Chabad Shluchim and Jewish students on college campuses are on the front lines, and how (equally!?) important that battle is as well.
Leaving Sheba back through the Lobby, meeting more such wounded soldiers, all you could do is thank these young heroes for their tremendous sacrifices!
TORAH DEDICATION AT TENT OF HEROES IN JERUSALEM
From Sheba Hospital the buses took us to Jerusalem. Before going to the hotel we stopped at Ohel HaGevurah, a tent/city square in Jerusalem where families of fallen soldiers and hostages often gather and share and pray and do things together. This time happened to be a Torah Scroll dedication – which we walked right into the dancing of!
The dancing had multiple tones to it. This very evening was supposed to be the wedding night of one of the fallen soldiers! What tragedy, and yet how it is commemorated! His family was there, the mother spoke. The Torah dedication and the Am-Yisrael-Chai Jewish joy was also in his memory.
Before getting into the purpose of this particular Torah dedication, first about this whole mixed feelings and wondrous spirit. Many families there are so deeply affected by great sorrow, yet they express this with lively joyous dancing with the Torah. Very telling of the spirit of the Jewish people!
This particular scroll was dedicated by young people. And in the merit of their finding spouses to marry. They asked the scribe to keep in mind their names and the names of others as he wrote the letters. It was dedicated on the very night that was supposed to be the wedding day of one of the fallen soldiers.
At this event, I met an older man. We started to talk, and lo and behold, it turns out he is the father-in-law of the wounded soldier Elisha that we just heard speak in Sheba! He was so eager to hear what Elisha said and how he said it. He described how much harder it is for his own wife to see her daughter and family deal with this, but spoke admirably of his daughter and her strength, and the family that Elisha comes from… And how he holds dear and holds forth on what the Rebbe says about Israel’s security especially about border towns. And how much it meant to him to surprisingly see Chabad Shluchim on campus come celebrate this Torah with them. Indeed, they announced it from the podium, while they make such tremendous sacrifices, the oneness of the Jewish people is deeply felt, and it meant so much to them we were present.
Also the everyday ordinary people at this event. Elisha’s father-in-law started pointed them out to me: This one is a scholar, this one endured tremendous tragedy, this one founded a special organization, this one is an expert in the Jerusalem Talmud etc… and the kids zipping around, in and out of the crowd!
We couldn’t stay long at this ceremony, as this Kinus Conference schedule keeps marching on – but we did get to hear some very meaningful and well-known speakers, will share some of their messages below.
The mother of the fallen soldier whose wedding was to be that night spoke movingly, imagine the feels! but that’s while I was engrossed in conversation with Elisha’s father-in-law.
Rav Igra is interim Cheif Rabbi of Israel. There’s some complexity now that the term has ended and new elections are not yet. He was eager that it not be called October 7th, rather Simchat Torah! (Personally, I’d rather the Oct 7th or similar, not to forever label and pull down Simchat Torah with this horrible tragedy, though it certainly has the association and memory). I don’t remember if it was Rav Igra or Sivan Rahav Meir who said, these are not the fallen of Israel but the uplifted of Israel, those who rose heavenward!
Sivan Rahav Meir is a popular speaker and media personality in Israel. This was one of her best speeches I have ever heard, filled with passion, energy, loads of meaning, One main point she said was to connect the Torah of these young people eager for Shidduchim together with the families of fallen soldiers and hostages: A time of war has similarities to the search for Shidduchim: uncertainty, loneliness, wondering when things will turn for the better, having to give your all without knowing the short-term outcome, she expressed all this beautifully. She said all of Israel is now in a time of waiting, not empty waiting, but active waiting, filled with faith and hope and tremendous dedication…
The last speaker we heard was Rav Shmuel Eliyahu of Tzfat, son of the beloved Chief Rabbi of Israel Mordechai Eliyahu, who was also a dear friend and Chassid of the Rebbe (unforgettable memories of his Chanukah Live 1991 Kotel Speech about the Rebbe lighting the Menorah…). He, too, spoke of the connection between this young people eager to build homes Torah with the current war situation and those families who made tremendous sacrifices: He beautifully recalled the biblical Shifra and Puah who selflessly risked everything to defy Pharoah’s evil decree against the future of the Jewish people, and G-d rewarded them by making them… homes!
Then we had to get back to the hotel.
We had a very elegant and dramatic dinner at the hotel, some speeches and stuff. The best was by an Israeli student (didn’t catch the college) and his Shliach Rabbi Moshe Goldstein. It was actually such a sweet speech, the boy is a super sweet, deeply honest, grateful soul. He shared beautifully! Maybe will try to write some of that up tomorrow.
Now to bed, because tomorrow is a huge travel day, all day on the road.