Rabbi Epstein's Mission to Israel

Gut Shabbos- I am pleased to bring back from Israel warm greetings and expressions of gratitude from the IDF whom we showed support, to the families of soldiers that have been critically wounded whom we visited in the hospital, and to the people of Sderot, (and their children that have not gone to school for weeks) and surrounding cities who suffer daily from the threat of being hit by rockets-we visited the homes of traumatized victims of rockets that hit and destroyed parts of their homes. We were over 20 rabbis from North America sent over by our congregations to show that we care, we are with you and we are one nation.

It seems not by accident that this week we read Parshat Shmot when G-d comes to Moshe for the first time amidst the fire of the burning bush that would not be consumed by the fire. Rashi brings the Midrash that states that the Burning Bush symbolizes the verse in Tehillim- Imo Anochi Btzarah – G-d says Kavyachol - I share in your pain. The question is how does the burning bush symbolize G-d’s empathy with us? Says the Mizrachi – look carefully at the picture - Vayerah Elohim Belabat Aish and an angel appeared amidst the thorn bushes and the raging fire would not quell. The message is in the thorns-as if G-d is saying- Even though you are in burning thorns, even though it is painful, even though no end is in sight, I am with you. That is the message we shared in Israel this past week.

Imo Anichi Betzarah-

When I descended from the plane at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning and the lady behind the glass looked at me and said “the purpose of your trip sir?” I answered with a smile- to visit family – and that is what we did for 40 hours straight.

We started in a Yeshiva in Ashdod where the boys learn and sleep in a bomb shelter because bombs have fallen in Ashdod– we studied with them, ate dinner with them and their appreciation was palpable.  After heading to Jerusalem and visiting the Kotel we drove South to Ashkelon and checked into the hotel at 130 am – with our keys came a map with directions to the bomb shelter.

On Wednesday morning we visited Soroka hospital in Beer Sheva- they showed us how hay transferred wards from  unprotected buildings to fortified ones – the maternity ward, neo-natal wards and a host of others needed to literally pick up and move- the ERs are in  contained bomb shelters and safe from biological and/or chemical warfare. We visited the family of Lial Cohen who do not leave his bedside and cried with us, prayed with us and shared hope with us. As we prepared to leave the hospital, the siren went off and we all dashed to the bomb shelter – one of us had a guitar and started to play Am Yisrael Chai – the entire bomb shelter, doctors, nurses, patients, and the rabbis started singing and circle dancing in the bomb shelter until the all clear sign.

Later we drove to the edge of Sderot and a few of us were  brought up to the front lines less then a mile to Gaza  to an open field the size of a football stadium where tanks were being repaired to be sent out again to warfare. We greeted the commanders and told them that we represent thousands of North Americans that are behind them – they thanked us profusely and asked for Brachot-blessings.

Our final spot was Sderot – and before coming to the Yeshiva we divided up into 3 groups and met with traumatized families who were affected by rockets. My group met with a middle aged woman who was sleeping upstairs when the siren went off  in late December– she dashed downstairs and the force of the impact hurled her across the house – every few minutes she would cry while we spoke. She showed us the destroyed room in her house. She said that her family was too afraid to visit her and she is all alone- and even her television was destroyed in the rocket attack – we bought her a new television that night- I spoke to her before Shabbos she sounded much better.

Our final stop was at the Yeshiva where hundreds of boys learn and then serve in the army. We met with them, danced with them, learned with them and were inspired by them – around midnight we went to sleep in a bomb shelter and woke up early to daven and make it back to the airport in time for our flights.

When I arrived home Thursday night and checked the websites for updates  - I was taken that in the exact places we were at the day before there were up to 30 bombs – in Beer Sheva, Sderot and Ashkelon – missed all the action by a few hours-

There are people who have asked me why did we go? Wasn’t it dangerous? It is the same response that G-d said to Moshe – Imo Anochi Betzarah – we are with you. They still need our prayers, they still need our support, they need our buy in at a time when the rest of the world condemns us.

Rav Lau said it best - this is not a war against the settlers, not against Israel –it is an existential war against the Jewish nation wherever we are. We are all under attack. That is why there have been so many anti semitic acts around the world- we must be strong, we must be faithful and we must be unified.

Again I want to say Yasher Koach to all of you for allowing me to represent you and give much needed Tzedakah to families and soldiers in need. May we merit to continue our oneness in good times and in better times – and may we see truth, justice and peace reign in Israel and the entire world.