Dear BIAV Family,
We hardly had time to mourn the deaths of Naftali, Eyal, and Gilad before Israel was thrust into battle with Hamas.
I would like to share a story I read about Gilad. When Gilad became Bar Mitzvah, his one request was to visit R. Yitzchok Grossman of Migdal Haemek, so that he could learn about “Ahavat Yisrael,” love of one’s fellow Jew.
As the period of the Three Weeks is upon us, we are beckoned to remember the terrible events that led to the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Our Rabbis tell us that the major cause of the destruction was “Sin’at Chinam,” baseless scorn for one’s fellow Jew.
At this time, when we are feeling so vulnerable and helpless being so far away from our brothers and sisters in Israel, we are all looking for ways to connect and contribute.
I would therefore like to suggest three areas in which we can help as a community:
1. Tzedaka
As Operation Protective Edge concludes its tenth day in Israel, let us join together as a community to make a difference in the lives of young Israelis living under the terrible strain of daily rocket fire.
OU Israel has programs that work with adolescent populations in underprivileged areas, many of which are in the line of fire. I had the opportunity to see some of these programs, such as Makom BaLev and Oraita, in action when I was on an OU mission a few years ago. These communities include such areas as, Ofakim, Sderot, Dimona, Yerucham, Kiryat Malachi and Kiryat Gat.
The OU is sending groups of kids from under-served Southern communities to extended “Shabbat retreats” in Northern Israel, to provide emotional support and respite from their daily trauma.
It would be most meaningful to join together as a community to sponsor a busload of kids in need to go North for Shabbat.
The cost is $100 per child – an entire busload is $5,000.
Donations can be sent to made to BIAV and we will send as a group to the OU. Please write “Israeli Youth Aid” in the memo if you are writing a check.
Please send donations by next Friday, July 25th. They will continue to provide these services even once the rockets stop.
Please consider sponsoring one child to participate in this worthy program and let’s together, as a shul community, strive to send off an entire bus load of underprivileged kids in the line of fire.
2. Ahavat Yisrael
“In Their Merit” is a campaign established by Project Inspire under the guidance of the aforementioned R. Yitzchok Dovid Grossman Chief Rabbi of Migdal Emek, to bring the Jewish People together by learning the Torah related to Unity and “Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself,” in the merit of Gilad, Eyal and Naftali.
During the Three Weeks leading to Tisha B’av, you can receive short daily emails with insight and inspiration about developing unity and love for our fellow Jews.
You can sign up at: www.intheirmerit.com
3. Shloshim for Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali a’h hy’d
Let us gather for the Shloshim of Gilad, Eyal, and Naftali on the 3rd day of Av, Tuesday evening July 29th after Maariv at approximately 8:45pm, for Tefilot and learning in their memory.
I’d like to suggest that in the short time we have to prepare together by studying the Tractate of Avot. It is from the Mishna, which is traditionally studied in the memory of those who have passed; and many of the themes relate to how we conduct ourselves with our fellow Jews.
Please choose one Mishna to study and see if you can share a message related to the idea of Loving One’s Fellow Jew.
Click here to access form to submit which Mishna you would like to choose and what message you would like to share. (Note: I realize people might choose the same Mishna).
In the merit of our tzedaka, learning and tefilla, may their memories be for a blessing and may there be peace in Israel and unity among our people.