Today I was Privileged…

Today I can honestly say that I was privileged – privileged to be part of one of the many Tzeirei Chabad teams visiting the home front in Israel. I spent the day with Rabbi Menachem Kutner of Chabad Terror Victims Project (ctvp.org) and Rabbi Zalman Gurelik (Tzeirie Chabad representative in Be'er Sheva) visiting homes hit by rockets‚ distributing food to the needy‚ giving out toys to children‚ comforting mourners‚ and visiting soldiers in the hospital. By Yossi Swerdlov‚ Tzeirei Chabad‚ Israel

By Yossi Swerdlov, Tzeirei Chabad, Israel

Today I can honestly say that I was privileged – privileged to be part of one of the many Tzeirei Chabad teams visiting the home front in Israel.

I spent the day with Rabbi Menachem Kutner of Chabad Terror Victims Project (ctvp.org) and Rabbi Zalman Gurelik (Tzeirie Chabad representative in Be'er Sheva) visiting homes hit by rockets, distributing food to the needy, giving out toys to children, comforting mourners, and visiting soldiers in the hospital.

It was quite a day, a day filled with emotions that are often hard to adequately describe. That is what almost every day has been like since the Gaza War started. I have been privileged to meet some of the most courageous and extraordinary people imaginable. It continually astounds me that our Jewish people are so vibrant, so resilient, so brave and so filled with hope.

I would like to highlight just three stories from today that really touched me.

The first neighborhood that we visited this morning in Be'er Sheva was hit by a rocket just a few short hours before we arrived. As it is, this is a very poor neighborhood. This rocket attack just added insult to injury. The devastation and the poverty that we saw there today are truly unimaginable.

In one of the apartments that we visited, which was damaged by a rocket, we found an old woman who was confined to her bed most of the time. I know this is hard to believe but she literally had nothing but dry bread and tea to eat. That was really all. It was heartbreaking.

You cannot imagine her delight and gratitude, first to have us come and visit her, and then when we gave her a full array of groceries including fresh chicken and fish, rice, flour, sugar and many other staples to sustain her for the next little bit of time. She was in tears. We were in tears. It was a visit I shall long remember.  Once we left, we immediately added her to our list so that she will receive regular visits and food deliveries.

The second story is about our heartrending visit to the parents of a soldier who was killed in the war. They are new immigrants, and, with tears in their eyes, they told us wonderful stories about their son and how he loved life and how proud they were of his courage and bravery.

Sadly, they are now alone, in a new country, with no real family to be there to strengthen and sustain them through this painful time. They kept thanking us over and over again for thinking of them and for being there with them in this, the most difficult time in their lives. 

Then we went to visit soldiers who had been injured and were in the hospital. One of them had lost an arm. When I asked him how he was doing, he looked at me with a look of disappointment and he said: "I am not upset that I lost my arm. I am upset that I am not out there with my brothers in Aza doing the job I am supposed to be doing!"

Can you imagine!  Here is this young man, on the cusp of life, and he has just lost his arm. Yet all he can think about is his comrades who are fighting in Aza and how he longs to be back with them, defending Israel. How many of us could be this unbelievably dedicated and courageous?  It speaks volumes about the soldiers who protect and defend Israel, does it not.

These are only a few of the experiences I had today. Our other teams are also meeting people who are extraordinary in their courage and their commitment. I will write again soon. With blessings and prayers of hope