Each year the State of Israel honors people to light torches on behalf of the
nation on Yom HaAtzmaut. The Torch-lighting ceremony (Hebrew: טקס†הדלקת
המשואות†) is the official ceremony that marks the closure of the Yom Hazikaron
commemorations and the opening of the Independence Day celebrations in Israel. The
ceremony, which is broadcast live on the main television and radio channels, is
designed to give the Day a dignified and festive atmosphere. The lighting of 12 torches
that symbolize the Twelve Tribes of Israel by people who are seen to have made an
outstanding contribution to society is the ceremony’s highlight. Because there were so
many incredible heroes on Oct 7th this year they decided to honor ppl by group. So for
example there will be a security forces torch lit by members of the IDF, Shin Bet and
the Mossad, a rescuers torch by civilians who acted valiantly, a local security team
torch and so on and so forth.
But this got me thinking about some of the people who we have met that had
individual standouts. And one person that passed through my mind was Rachel Edri or
Savta Rachel from Ofakim. You may remember her story from earlier in the year when it
got a lot of press. Basically on Oct. 7th after a siren rang in the southern city of Ofakim,
Rachel and David ran to a nearby bomb shelter. Meanwhile, two truckloads of terrorists
had entered Ofakim, located just 25 kilometers from Gaza. The police immediately
launched a search operation as the terrorists began firing at civilians. By 9 a.m., Rachel
and David, thinking the danger had passed, returned home. To their surprise, instead of
enjoying a quiet Shabbat morning together, they were met by armed Hamas terrorists
who had entered their home to escape the police.
Trapped and knowing that attempting to leave could be fatal, the couple decided to
comply with the terrorists’ demands and even took it a step further, treating them as
they would any guest. Rachel Edri later shared in an interview, “Hachnasat orchim,
welcoming guests, is an important mitzvah that I take very seriously. So, I welcomed
them like they were simply my guests.” She engaged them in conversation, sang with
them, and even taught them Hebrew words. “At one point I even forgot for a moment
that they were terrorists,” she recalled. She asked them if they wanted Coca Cola and
they responded positively. She brought them Cola Zero and they reacted with disgust
and asked for regular cola. As a diabetic, she only had Zero in the house and began to
talk to them about their health. Four hours into the hostage situation, as lunchtime
approached, Rachel realized that the terrorists might be getting hungry — a dangerous
situation. “I figured, if they’re hungry they’ll kill me.” So, she offered to feed them and
make them tea, brought them cola, and gave them cookies. “I even made them
chicken!” One of the terrorists said, “You remind me of my mother,” to which she
responded, “I am really like your mother. I will help you, I will take care of you. What do
you need?” Rachel bought enough time to save her life. And in so doing she became a
pop icon. She met President Biden. She had superhero action figures made after her.
There was demand for her recipes.
And while her story was cool, for a very long time I was trying to figure out was
the moral of the story. Perhaps her poise. Her cool under fire. This morning I figured it
out. And with your permission I will share it with you- but allow me to do it by virtue of
an idea about the time of year we find ourselves in.
The Talmud relates that during this period of time of Sefirat HaOmer is a time of
mourning ,That’s why we don’t get haircuts or listen to music. Because were all
mourning. Why are we morning? The Talmud relates that during this time period the
24000 student of Rabbi Akiva died and the Torah was almost lost from Israel. Why? Al
Shelo Nahagu Kavod Zeh LaZeh- because they didn’t treat each other repsetcully. Now
this is hard to understand. These were the greatest Torah scholars in the world.
According to some scholar they died around the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt. So it
would be after the destruction of the second Temple. So my question is how is this
possible that they didn’t learn the lesson of the destruction of the Temple? After all the
temple was destroyed acc to tradition because they didn’t treat each other with
respect, Sinas Chinam. How could they have failed again?
I would like to make the following suggestion. There is a distinction between
reactive respect and proactive respect. For sure. In the immediate aftermath of the
destruction, no doubt they took on a great teshuva movement. And there were lashon
Hara campaigns and sinas Chinam campaigns and more. But it didn’t actually fully
penetrate. And after some time people reverted back to their old habits. What “Shelo
Nahagu Kavod Zeh LaZeh means” comes from the words Manhig- they didn’t lead with
honor for each other. Which means they never fully practiced pro-active koavid
towards each other. Think about it. Th eGemara could simply say “Al Shelo Kibdu zen
et zen” but no- nahagu Kovaod means to lead with Kavod. They never began to take
the proactive steps to rectify the situation
As Jews we see this in crisis often. Since Oct 7th the Jews have unified like
never before. But what happens the day after the war? What happens when issues like
the judicial reform are back or army service are back to front and center? I remember
after the 3 boys Eyal Gilad and Naftali were murdered there was incredible unity. They
even made a national unity prize. But what became of of it? A short time later we were
back to our old ways.
So it is in this spirit, that the Shul is undertaking the Beth Jacob summer of unity
and achudus and Ahavat Chinam and love. We are encouraging everyone to not just
reactively practice loving each other and unity, but proactively encouraging people to
do unity. To that end I want to thank Maxx & Liraz Blank and Izzy and Samantha cousin
for co-chairing this summer series. We are still dveeloping it. But right now there will be
a series of programs at various peoples homes that we hope everyone attends. And
the point of these events is to go out of your way, possibly out of your comfort zone to
socialize with people that you may not ordinarily socialize with, to break down some of
the barriers and build a more cohesive community. This means going out of your way
to Shmuz with people you may not ordinarily shmuz with, invite people for Shabbos
meals you may not ordinarily invite, and bring each other together.
And upon reflection to me this is the moral of the story of Savta Rachel. Savta
Rachel used the most basic of human interactions with her terrorist captors would be
murderes to disarm them. She treated them with warmth, she cooked for them, She
spoke with them and she fed them:-) And if it worked for Hamas Kal VaChomer, Kal
VaCHomer it can work to enhance each and every one of our relationships:-)