Following the brutal 1973 Yom Kippur war, Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau journeyed to New York to visit the Rabbi M. M. Schneerson obm – the Rebbe, to seek his advice.
The Rebbe asked Rabbi Lau what the mood was “in the streets of Israel,” after having faced such a challenging war.
Rabbi Lau responded that people are asking, “What will be?”
The Rebbe gently took Rabbi Lau’s arm and passionately replied, tell people “Don’t ask: ‘What will be?’, ask them ‘What can we do?’
Despite the ongoing difficult days for Israel not only with having to fight a despicable enemy in Gaza. There are daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah in the north and the Houthis in the South. This war has also brought out an unprecedented level of anti-Semitism around the world that we have not seen our generations. Yet despite these challenges the Jewish are a resilient people and with Hashem help will be virtuous.
I share with you these two stories of individuals who decided we can do something to make a change for good.
There is always something we can DO!
Here is a beautiful story of my friend Janine Rankin who after the massacre in Israel on October 7th, 2023, like many people were in shock. This was further exasperated by the unprecedented rise of antisemitism in Australia and around the world. As time went by, the world continued to turn on Israel with even more lies and distortions and increased anti-semitism. Janine felt she had to do something, in her did in her own words.
“I felt at times helpless, and my heart was breaking for the Jewish People in Israel who were traumatized from the massacre itself, then the unprecedented hate from the world.
One morning I became frustrated with a news item and thought, we can pray, we can send money to help but we must also DO something! I decided to go to Israel for three months with my friend Joy Heylen.
I also wanted to convey a tangible message of support, hope and faith to the Israeli’s that I would meet. The thought came to me to print (500) postcards that I would give out in Israel. I used a design with a Koala, Dove, and Star of David and underneath the words “Am Yisrael Chai” which means The Nation of Israel lives.
In Israel I carried the Postcards with me every day. I gave them out on the street, on the Bus, Light rail, in shops, the Temple Mt, Yad Vashem, City of David; to ordinary folk, Naval Cadets, IDF Soldiers, Border Police and El Al Staff. They always brought a smile, surprise and sometimes tears to their faces that a non-Jew from far away Australia understood their plight and cared.
Here are some special moments when people received the cards. When a Border Policeman at our Bus Stop, when I wished him a good morning in Hebrew and gave him the card. A huge smile appeared on his face, and he put his hand on his heart.
In the Jewish Quarter I noticed a female IDF Soldier looking sad, preoccupied, and felt to give her a card. Her face lit up and she had a smile. I let her know we love Israel and the Jewish People and that many people around the world are praying for Israel. She was very moved, and I gave her a hug and said I would pray for her protection.
At the Kotel on Independence Day evening I was with two other Australians, and we were able to speak with groups of young women. One Group had come to see their friends’ names, who had been murdered at the Nova Festival on the lighted sign. I gave them post cards and let them know that we love the Jewish People and stand with them. They really appreciated our love and support as they felt that the world was against them. I assured them that there are many non-Jews who are standing with them.
The women’s section of the Kotel was overflowing with young women with Israel flags and banners everywhere and dancing in Prayer and Song. In a very moving moment, one group of young women grabbed us and were dancing and singing “Am Yisrael Chai.” When I heard those words, I felt as if Hashem was smiling on us . That is a memory I will remember forever.
There is always something we can do, to bring a smile to someone, even by handing out postcards. AM YISRAEL CHAI The Nation and People of Israel Live!
An Unpresented Act of Faith and Forgiveness
Today, one of Israel’s greatest heroes is a middle-aged mother, Irit Haim whose son was held hostage in Gaza. She was a guest of the Israeli when PM Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his address to Congress. Here tragic yet inspirational story.
Yotam Haim was one of over 240 Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. After 65 days in captivity, he managed to escape, along with two other Israelis, Alon Shamriz and Samer Talaka.
They eluded capture for five days, hiding in an abandoned building in Gaza City.
On December 15, Yotam, Alon and Samar emerged from their building, waved a white cloth, and approached Israeli troops. Thinking they were Hamas suicide bombers, members of the IDF shot them.
When the IDF informed Iris and her family of this terrible mistake. She recalls, “I was in shock. I could not believe he was killed. Why did it happen to us? All my beliefs, my faith was crushed. I felt like a black hole opened and I wanted to jump into it.”
During the Haim family’s shiva 7(Seven-day mourning period) for Yotam, one of the IDF platoon soldier’s wives came to visit. She told Iris, “That the soldiers who had shot Yotam and the other hostages were devastated and could no longer function.” The nation of Israel was in collective shock by the army’s tragic error and a feeling of hopelessness was infecting the entire country.
Upon hearing these words Iris sent this message to the platoon.
“I am Yotam’s mother. I wanted to say that I love you very much and I hug you from afar. I know that everything that happened is not your fault at all, but the fault of Hamas, may their names and their memory be erased.
I ask that you take care of yourselves and think all the time that you are doing the best thing in the world that can help the people of Israel.
No one is judging you or angry: not me, not my husband, not my daughter, not my late son, not Yotam’s brother.
At the first opportunity, you are welcome to come to us. We want to see you in person, and we want to hug you. We love you.”
The soldiers sent her back a voice note, “We received your message, and since then we have been able to function again. Before that, we had shut down…”
Iris Haim message of love and support for the IDF platoon that accidently killed her son did not enable the platoon to move on with their lives about her faith, courage and forgiveness has buoyed the entire nation.
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