When we arrived at Re’im, the bus drove down the roads that had trapped the fleeing festival goers. We traveled past the car graveyard in Tekumah. On the way, we heard a shiur from Rabbi Daniel Feldman on the topic of pidyon shevuyim and the ethics of hostage negotiations. We traveled south to the location of the Re’im Music Festival. Wednesday, Day 2: We woke early and got on the bus at 7 a.m. We felt this within our group-we felt this in being a part of Am Yisrael, together at this difficult moment. We felt the strength that comes from being present-from being together. Throughout the day, we felt appreciation for our presence in Israel at this time. There was a certain irony: the feelings of presence when discussing the deceased, the feelings of absence when thinking of the chatufim and the feelings towards the politicians whom the hostage families called out for their inaction. We saw many artistic calls for the freeing of the hostages, while hearing the families of hostages speak to all of Israel over loudspeakers. We closed out the day with a visit to Hostage Square in the center of Tel Aviv. Ishay Ribo performed beautifully and shared a new song devoted to the war. I had the opportunity to express thanks on behalf of Jews throughout the world for the efforts of Israel’s soldiers. My colleagues and I were called to the stage to be acknowledged for sponsoring the gathering. Honors were given to excellent soldiers filled with videos of commanders’ and family’s praises. Gifts and food were provided to soldiers and their families the unit had served in Israel’s north continuously since the start of the war. Thousands of people crowded a hangar in Tel Aviv’s port area. (We did not make lemonade, but Yigal very much appreciated both our help and our presence in Israel.)Īfter davening Mincha at an overlook in Karmei Yosef we joined the two other Bergen County buses in Tel Aviv for the Alexandroni Brigade 9203 (reserve) awards ceremony. I rejoined the group in Moshav Tzlafon, an agricultural village, where we helped a farmer named Yigal harvest lemons. I broke away from the mission to attend the funeral of Rabbi Yitzchak Sladowsky, z”l, Debbie Horowitz and Rachel Antosofsky’s father. The Rinat and Or Saadya group (Bus 1) visited the Shura army base where our heroic fallen soldiers are identified and prepared for burial. She explained the nature of this war as one ultimately centered upon Jerusalem, and the need for all Jews to prioritize it in their prayers and in their lives. She spoke about her son’s ongoing presence in her life, describing how she continues to speak to him. She emphasized the pride she took in her son’s energy and courage. Tuesday, Day 1: We began at the Dan Panorama where we heard from Jen Airley whose son Binyamin, HY”D fell in Gaza on Shabbat Parshat Toldot. I’ll try to share some of the details and a little commentary along the way. Over 120 people participated in what was an intense and inspiring opportunity to connect with Israel’s people in a way that many of us have never done before. Rabbis Daniel Fridman, Daniel Feldman, Larry Rothwachs Rabbetzins Chani Krohn and Michal Goldberg and I led a Bergen County mission from February 20-22. ![]() (The truth of our co-dependency-also known as areyvut-is true at all times. The clear understanding that we as a Jewish people need one another to survive creates an achdut that can be sensed in almost every interaction. To travel to Israel during wartime is to experience a different Israel than during any other visit.
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