A delegation from Crown Heights’ Ohel Nosson community embarked on a mission of physical and spiritual support for IDF soldiers. The visit, led by Ezer L’Chayal, included visits to military posts and assembly areas, where they distributed thermal clothing, personal gear, heaters, and solar lighting systems.
The journey began at the assembly area of Givati, Armor, Engineering, and Maintenance forces, where the delegation met with soldiers from the Rotem Battalion who had just returned from 32 days of fighting in Jabaliya. “The excitement was overwhelming,” shares Rabbi Eliyahu Gutman from Ezer L’Chayal, “seeing the soldiers putting on tefillin and dancing with simcha immediately upon their return from the field.”
At the ‘Black Arrow’ post, the delegation presented soldiers heading into battle with microfilm Chitas and additional essential equipment. In the military tent at the Gaza border, Mishnayot were recited and Kaddish was said for the elevation of the souls of the kedoshim, Hy”d.
The first day concluded with an uplifting event at Camp Shikmim, which included writing letters in a Sefer Torah, a festive procession, dancing and hakafot in the synagogue, and ending with an honorable seudas mitzvah.
A special day was dedicated to visiting wounded soldiers, with each warrior receiving a special gift package including chocolates, a money card, and a letter in a Sefer Torah. A particularly moving moment occurred when R’ Moshe Rubashkin presented a dollar from the Rebbe to one soldier’s mother. The dollar was inscribed as intended for the Rebbe’s shluchos for Chabad women and girls, and remarkably, the mother was there with her daughter. “This is a sign from the Rebbe,” the mother said with tears in her eyes, “he sent this to me exactly now.”
The delegation continued to Chevron, where a special prayer was held at Me’aras HaMachpelah together with soldiers and local shluchim, Rabbi Yitzchak Neimark and Rabbi Danny Cohen, who work tirelessly to strengthen the soldiers in the area.
The delegation continued northward, from Majdal Shams through the Mt. Dov posts – Sion and Dalia, where winter equipment was distributed to soldiers. At Odem Forest, they met with artillery forces, and at Camp Gamla visited the 188th Brigade soldiers. A special farbrengen was held at the Chabad House in the artists’ village of Ani’am with shliach Rabbi Shalom Hertzel.
The journey concluded at Camp Zikim, visiting soldiers from the Shaked Battalion, Combat Engineering, and Intelligence forces. At post-K2, an impressive barbecue event was held with about one hundred soldiers, providing a perfect ending to the comprehensive strengthening mission.
“This journey is a tangible expression of the deep connection between Diaspora Jewry and IDF soldiers,” concludes Rabbi Gutman. “It’s a great zechus to strengthen the hands of the warriors who show mesirus nefesh in defending Am Yisrael. Each such encounter provides renewed strength, both to the soldiers and the visitors.”
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It’s great to see fellow Lubavitcher Chassidim make trips to be mechazek the soldiers in the IDF and donate clothing and gear.
But there’s many people in Eretz Yisroel that can do that, and put Tefillin on with them. Perhaps they should invest more in our soldiers at home, invest in chabad’s moisdos chinich ?