CTVP staff and volunteers are continuing to visit the families of the bereaved who are still reeling from the shock of losing their sons, some not even yet out of their teenage years.
We are vising these families day in and day out, and will continue being with them for as long as they need us, however long that is. We will provide emotional comfort and care, financial help, practical help like babysitting, bringing in meals, driving to appointments and much more.
Below are some more of the stories of our visits.
We visited with Glaytu Baynishon wife of Danny Baynishon. As we walked into the home, the young Ethiopian-Israeli mother sat with her baby on her lap and her other young children near her. She spoke softly as she talked of her husband, Kasahun (AKA Danny), a career soldier, who was killed during the war at the young age of 39. Just ten days later she gave birth to the couple’s fourth child.
She named their baby girl Tal-Or, which means “Dew-Light”. She said that her husband had missed the births of their first two children as he was always leaving on army operations. He was there for the third but now he will never meet this new little daughter. Always the couple parted at dawn as Danny set out, including this time. Glaytu commemorated this in the baby’s name.
We brought her comfort and financial support. And we brought gifts for her other children who have lost the father they adored, loved and respected.
We also visited the family of Meidan Maymon Biton, who just moments before he was killed, put on Tefillin with the help of Chabad. During that moment, as Meidan prepared for battle with prayer, someone snapped a very moving photo.
Before we arrived to comfort his family that day, a Chabad team had come to pay their condolences and brought the photo with them.
The family told us that this photo has been of so much comfort to them. The fact that Meidan’s last act was one of holiness brought them solace in a way nothing else had. They were so grateful for this and for our visit.
We met with many other families that same day in other cities including the family of Hadar Goldin, 23, in Kfar Saba. He is the soldier who was first presumed kidnapped when a suicide bomber emerged from one of the tunnel and blew himself up.
Later on it was discovered that Hadar had been killed.
Hadar was supposed to be married just a few weeks later. He left a bereft family and young fiancée. The family’s home was filled with sadness that was palpable in the very air. We did everything we could to bring them comfort.
Joining us on these visits were Rabbis and volunteers from abroad. Rabbi Yossi Amar of France; Rabbi Eli Popack of the Hamptons, the Ginewinih family of Montreal; and Freidy Yanover of Milwaukee. They added a special feeling to the visits, letting these families know that their sacrifices were for the entire Am Yisroel, no matter where they live in the world.
All the soldiers who are wounded – and those who have been lost – are heroes of Israel and the Jewish People. Their families surely deserve everything we can provide for them, for as long as they need us.
This is what distinguishes CTVP. We are there for the long-term and will not leave these families – or any others under our care – until they are strong enough to regain their lives. Even if that is years, we will be there.