By Rebecca Kalmar, Staff Writer
“How was your trip?” they ask. As we walk through Kfar Aza where the sun is shining and the sky is blue, somehow, it seems peaceful, but wrongfully so. We tread somberly along the path throughout the kibbutz and BOOM!!! An explosion rocks the silence and for one moment I am filled with nothing but fear.
“How was your trip?” they ask. People stream into the streets of Ofakim clapping, singing, and dancing with the Torah held high. The energetic crowd makes their way through the city until they come to a sudden abrupt halt. The announcer’s tone shifts as he informs the crowd this is the exact place where the brothers died. Tears fill the once happy faces, and joyful dancing is now mixed with sadness.
“How was your trip?” they ask. What can I say?
Over winter break, the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership, with the guidance of its founders Terri and Andrew Herenstein and support from YU Trustee Elliot Gibber, took a group on the Stronger Together Solidarity Mission to Israel. The mission participants included four Yeshiva University educators and staff members as well as 37 students. The trip lasted from January 7 to January 14, with mission members traveling all throughout Israel to show solidarity, volunteer, and bear witness. As a student who was fortunate to participate in the mission, I have struggled upon my return from Israel to communicate the depth of meaning and emotional significance of my experiences to others. One core idea that was strongly emphasized, particularly towards the end of our trip, was that those of us who participated in the mission need to share the messages we gained from our experiences in order to make a broader impact. The question is not what can I say, but what can I do? What can you do? What can we do? The following is a list of ways that each of us can make a difference, inspired by lessons from the Sacks-Herenstein Center Mission:
1) Tell Their (Our) Story
The third day of the mission was devoted to bearing witness to the atrocities in Otef Aza. Unfortunately, there are too many stories to tell, but I will share just one of the many narratives we bore witness to that day. While we were in Kfar Aza, Ron, a soldier and our guide, told us to share that she “doesn’t want to live a life where this is okay.” The “this” in her message was the story of the Idan family. On October 7, Roee Idan, a photographer, walked outside to take photos and managed to capture images of Hamas terrorists paragliding into the kibbutz before he was brutally murdered. His little daughter Avigayil managed to run away and was found by another member of the kibbutz who brought her to his own family’s safe room. When the man returned from getting a weapon to defend his family, he found that they had all been kidnapped, including Avigayil. Thankfully, Avigayil has returned to Israel, but she came home an orphan. Residents of Kfar Aza were advocates for peace who flew kites into Gaza which said “Shalom” on them, and they were mercilessly slaughtered. It is our duty to share the messages and stories of the people of Israel, our people, with the world to raise awareness for both the hostages and the atrocities suffered by those who were murdered.
Link to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum: Bring them home now: Israeli hostages taken by Hamas
2) Wage the Media Battle
During the trip, Gil Hoffman, a journalist, political correspondent, and the Executive Director of Honest Reporting, gave us a presentation on the war in Israel and the media response. He explained that Israel is fighting the war on multiple fronts and discussed the importance of advocating for Israel on the media battlefield. This message was crystalized for me during the group’s visit to the city of Ofakim. Through the generosity of the Herensteins and Rabbi Shai Graucher, founder of the Standing Together/Chesed V’Rachamim Campaign, a hachnasat Sefer Torah (Torah scroll instillation) was organized for Ariel and Roi Guri, Hashem Yikom Damam (may Hashem avenge their death), two brothers who were murdered defending their city from the terrorists. During a pause in the dancing, we were able to speak with some of the girls who live in Ofakim. When mission participant Zehava Shatzkes (SCW ‘26) referenced the rally for Israel in Washington D.C. she was met with blank faces. Quickly taking out her phone, Zehava shared videos from the rally with the girls, and it was incredibly powerful to see how moved they were by this show of support. By advocating for Israel on social media, we send a message to our nation and the world that Israel is not alone, and we stand behind her.
Link to Honest Reporting: HonestReporting | Exposing anti-Israel media bias
3) Laughter and Legacy
Sergeant First Class (res.) Gavriel Bloom, Hashem Yikom Damo, was a combat engineer in the 36th Division, who lost his life in the war against Hamas. At the Bloom shiva (mourning period) we heard from Gavriel’s mom Jennifer Bloom. She told us that Gavriel was the type of person who always made other people laugh. If you said a word the wrong way, he wouldn’t let you forget it, and it would become an inside joke he would constantly remind you of. She told us that there is a black hole where his simcha (joy) was, and asked us to share jokes to make others laugh and bring more happiness into the world. I would like to share the joke she told us at the shiva, and hope you share it with others in honor of Gavriel’s memory. An owner’s parrot continuously used foul language, and the embarrassed owner asked the parrot to stop, but it just wouldn’t stop cursing. Eventually the owner got so frustrated that he snapped and stuffed the parrot in the freezer. When the owner took the parrot out the bird said, “I’ll never do it again, but can I just ask, what did the chicken do?” In our short time with Jennifer, she shared a second important message with us. Once Gavriel died, she was surprised to learn that he owned a motorcycle which he used to deliver pizzas. She asked us to call our mothers and let them know something we had never told them, highlighting that they might understand more than we think they would. So take the time to call your mom or another family member and tell them something new about you, or tell them a joke to make them laugh. Help perpetuate the legacy of the life of an incredible young man which was cruelly and tragically cut short.
4) Support our Warriors
After helping run a carnival for milluim (reserve) families in Carmei Gat, we were blessed to hear from Benjy and Eliana Goldstein about their life since October 7. Benjy spoke to us about his experience in milluim, while Eliana spoke about what it was like to be a “milluimma.” I was inspired and awestruck at the strength, courage, and resilience of this family. They fought to keep their country safe and persisted for their children. This resilience was also the theme of our visit to Achim L’Chaim. Achim L’Chaim is an organization that provides support for soldiers affected by the mental and physical harm of war. Wounded soldiers are paired with a mentor with the same disability who helps them through their challenges. We toured their facility and heard personal stories from soldiers of their recovery journeys. Once again, I was struck by the incredible resilience of these soldiers, one of whom even returned to fight after recovering from an injury. I was also amazed at the level of thought and care that went into the facility. Every potential need and want of the soldiers was considered and provided for. We must support our warriors who are battling and have battled for our country, as well as our warriors who fight daily so that their families can live their lives in peace.
Link to Smiles for the Kids- the organization that ran the Carmei Gat carnival: Smiles for the kids
Link to Achim L’Chaim: Brothers For Life – Injured soldiers helping injured soldiers
5) Spread Unity
The most impactful moment for me from our day in Otef Aza was the time spent at the Re’im forest, the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre. We wandered around in a daze between dozens of stakes stuck in the desert ground with pictures of those murdered or taken hostage from the festival. Standing in a circle, arm in arm, we sang from the depths of our hearts, tears streaming down our faces, as the notes of Shifchi, Acheinu, Ani Maamin, and Hatikvah soared heavenward. As I took a moment to look around, I noticed that our circle had grown significantly. Young and old, secular and religious, soldier and student, all united as one nation, strengthening each other. Dr. Erica Brown, Vice Provost of Values and Leadership and Director of the Sacks-Herenstein Center, called on us to spread the feeling of unity that we felt in that moment to our Yeshiva University campus. Whether it be by taking a few moments to have a genuine conversation with someone you have not met, or committing to stay on campus for Shabbos, we can all contribute to fostering a greater sense of community here at YU.
Link to sign up for Shabbos on campus: Log On (yu.edu)
On our last day in Israel, we heard from Fleur Hassan Nahoum, a deputy mayor of Jerusalem. She told us that we don’t need to save the world to have an impact, but we all need to do something. Whether it’s prayer, charity, or a challenge from the list above, everyone can use their strengths to fulfill their mission. As President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman continues to remind us, we were all called up to battle on October 7. Let’s answer that call, stand strong, and win this war together.