When people ask why I joined Beth Tfiloh’s recent solidarity mission to Israel, I answer that I simply wanted to be there with my people, to experience what they are going through during these challenging times.
I compare it to a family member who is suffering on the other side of the country. I may not be able to fix their situation but if they are dear to me, I will make every effort to be there by their side — even if only for a few days.
This is exactly what our Beth Tfiloh group did this February, through volunteering and providing emotional support to our brothers and sisters.
One of our main goals was to be involved in active volunteering, as much as we could over our four days in Israel. In these tough times every bit matters, and perhaps more importantly, just being there makes a difference.
As group member Randy Getz put it, “One of the things that most impressed me was the sincere appreciation Israeli people express when they hear we are here visiting in support of them. It means the world to them to know that Jews on the other side of the ocean, on the other side of the world, care about them and are thinking of them.”
Our volunteer efforts included tying tzitzit for soldiers with Jerusalem’s Eretz Hemdah community; packing sandwiches for families through Chabad of Katamon; preparing care packages through the nonprofit Eran’s Angels; sponsoring a night of entertainment for young couples in the village of Givat Harel; and together with the national food bank Leket Israel picking one ton of kohlrabi for families in need.
We also handed out presents to young families accompanied by touching cards from our very own Beth Tfiloh students. And at the conclusion of our trip, we helped sponsor, set up and serve a barbeque for soldiers actively serving in Gaza.
As is only to be expected with a country in mourning and at war, these uplifting moments were matched with their share of difficult moments. It’s not a simple time in Israel, as Peggy Garfunkel shared, “It’s the complexity of this country. People are mourning children who have died. People are helping, donating and contributing. People want their kids back with people who want to save the country or save us. And there are no simple answers.”
These complex times required us to offer emotional presence and support each step of the way. Visiting with wounded soldiers in Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Ramat Gan was extremely moving as we witnessed firsthand the war’s effects on our soldiers and their families.
One evening, we visited with evacuees from the north. It was heart-wrenching to hear them talk about their more than four-month-long displacement due to the war, in hotel rooms without kitchens, backyards, or even the faintest clue of what the future holds for their families and their livelihoods.
On our visit to Givat Harel, we cried along with the mother of Maj. (Res.) Moshe Yedidyah Leiter as she read a eulogy from her son’s funeral. And being there to comfort the family of lone soldier Staff Sgt. Simon Shlomov during shiva felt extremely impactful as well.
But for all the sadness and difficulties we experienced, we also witnessed overwhelming unity, poise and love. In Sarah Rubin’s words, “It’s been very difficult to see Israel not in its normal healthy state. It’s different, it’s heavy. But it’s also been amazing to see everyone coming together and taking care of each other.”
The morale and togetherness were extremely high among the soldiers we met. And as a Beth Tfiloh community, we also came together as we joined Beth Tfiloh alumni in Israel for dinner and words of inspiration shared by alumni Arky Staiman and Ephraim Shapiro.
Beyond our community, we witnessed Jews from all parts of the country pouring into Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to mourn, pray and protest on behalf of the hostages. We joined together with Jews of varied religious backgrounds in honoring those murdered on Oct. 7 in the southern kibbutz of Re’im, at the site of the Supernova music festival. And we saw Jews at every stop doing all they could to offer their time, money and energy to others in need.
To be sure, Israel is in pain. Israel is at war. However, Israel is also more united and stronger than I have ever seen. Our inner unity and love have risen to the surface, and it’s a beautiful sight to see.
So why did I join and lead our Israel mission? Because this is what Jews do. We pick each other up when we are down, and we are there for each other no matter what.
It is this strength and togetherness that has pushed us through the toughest of times in our long history. And it is this resilience that will help us rise above this tragedy and emerge even stronger and more unified than before.
Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev serves as the associate rabbi of Pikesville’s Beth Tfiloh Congregation, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish congregations in North America.
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