On Sunday evening, May 12, community members gathered at Congregation Etz Chaim for a special Yom HaZikaron event. Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg, Rav of the congregation, welcomed everyone and outlined the program.
First, he led everyone in reciting Psalm 124. Next, Ruby Davis chanted the Keil Malei Rachamim and then Rabbi Hillel Lichtman said a Mi SheBeirach for the soldiers. After that, Michael Cohen led a prayer for the IDF soldiers. Following that, Mr. Eric Levy, community member, shared his eyewitness account of the miracles that happened when the missiles flew.
Eric and Marilyn Levy were visiting Israel during the Iranian attack. He shared how, shortly before they arrived, there was a lot of back and forth between Israel and Lebanon. Israel had taken out some Iranian commanders. Iran was threatening a response. Listening to Israeli television, commentators were saying it wasn’t a matter of if Iran would attack, but rather when. “We went into Shabbos not knowing what would be,” he said.
He described how Motza’ei Shabbos they found out dozens of rockets and drones were fired at Israel. This information came from social media and film from Iran. The Levys packed a bag so they would be ready to go into the bomb shelter. The news said that drones could take longer to hit and so they knew it would be an all-nighter. He shared that they have large windows facing west in their apartment. At two a.m., he said they saw shooting flames and then they heard two explosions. They realized these were countermeasures, possibly the Iron Dome. Sirens sounded all over Yerushalayim. They immediately hurried into the bomb shelter. Their building has one shelter on each floor, but no one else was in theirs except for them. They could hear people above and below, so they started to communicate with other on WhatsApp. He said that it was the first time while visiting Israel that they ever had to stay in a bomb shelter.
They asked how long they should stay in it, and people told them to stay at least ten minutes if there was no siren. If a siren sounds again, then you must return.
The sirens stopped, so they returned to their apartment. They kept the television on all night. “We began to realize that very few rockets or drones were able to break through the air system defense that Israel has.” Sadly, there was an injury to a young Bedouin, but it was an absolute miracle that there were no other casualties. Almost every rocket and drone fired by Iran at Israel was intercepted before Israeli air space.
There was unbelievable coordination with other countries who participated to help Israel. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and surprisingly Jordan, all helped. “That this coordination that took place was truly a miracle from Hashem,” he said. The big fear was that drones could overwhelm the Israeli air defense systems.
Following this, Rabbi Rosenberg shared that the shul was hosting a virtual Yom HaAtzmaut celebration the next night. “Every year, we like to segue from mourning to rejoicing on Yom HaAtzmaut,” he related.
Everyone received a copy of an article from the Queens Jewish Link by Rabbi Avraham Wein (December 12, 2023) about Ari Zenilman Hy”d, who was killed in Gaza. The author shared his memories of Ari, who left behind a wife and three children – the youngest only ten weeks old. The article ends with “Ari, you will be sorely missed. We are heartbroken by your loss, and you will never be forgotten. We will remember you for your heroics on the battlefield but also your lovable nature and your sterling personality. During our last text exchange, I wished you the blessing of being strong and courageous. You fulfilled that charge admirably. May Hashem give that very same strength and courage to your entire family during this awful time. Farewell, my cousin. Farewell, my friend.”
The last part of the event featured a film from Yeshiva Har Etzion, titled “Serving on All Fronts.” It was footage of the Israeli soldiers going into the places in the South after the terrorist attacks, and it showed them going into Gaza. It showed the blood on the walls in the kibbutzim. It also showed the funerals of IDF soldiers and the family members speaking after losing a family member. An army commander narrated in Hebrew with English subtitles, and others spoke, as well, in the film.
It was moving to see the IDF soldiers making Havdalah in Gaza and even celebrating a pidyon ha’ben.
It was difficult to watch, but it also portrayed the courage and strength of the Jewish people.
May Hashem avenge the blood of the Jews killed by our enemies and bring comfort to their families and klal Yisrael.
The community appreciates this beautiful Yom Ha Zikaron commemoration.
By Susie Garber
