This writer had the honor to interview Staff Sergeant Mordechay Shenveld, an IDF soldier and accomplished violinist, who was wounded in Gaza. He is someone with a mission and, baruch Hashem, he has a beautiful message he wants to spread, and he is speaking all over North America and Israel. He spoke in Montreal, Kingston (Ontario), Miami, Chicago, and New Jersey, and he is heading to Los Angeles.
He grew up in the Golan Heights area of Eretz Yisrael in a small village called Hispin.
He shared how this was his first trip to the United States, and it was strange for him. He sees the war is not just in Israel. The physical battle is there, but there is a battle of words and attitudes here in the United States.
It’s not all about Israel or Judaism, he explained. “It’s about partnership and life and what is important in life and how we can celebrate life.”
He noted the sad fact that we see people all over chanting violence against the State of Israel, and it’s not just about Israel.
He related that he came as a citizen of the world to share his message to the world of love of freedom. “I came to play music, to encourage life as a normal citizen.”
He sees Islamic extremists who have no compassion for Jews or the massacre on October 7.
He wants to share the idea of a partnership and connection to the State of Israel and the opportunity the State of Israel gives to people.
“We need to defeat darkness with light. Smile and play music. My message is either you want to add something to the world or to destroy the world.”
He shared how he came from the battlefield in a bad situation. His best friend was killed a couple of days before he was wounded. His best friend had donated his kidney, heart, and lungs. His friend gave to people he never met.
Sergeant Shenveld had the most painful day as he was wounded so badly that he required open-heart surgery.
With Hashem’s help, he recovered but he didn’t want to play music. His friends visited him and coaxed him to come and play music. “I didn’t want to. They said we’ll make music.”
He had an Arab doctor named Fares Darawshe of the Sheba Medical Center, who is an Israeli Palestinian. On WhatsApp, there is a video of the doctor playing music with Mordechay.
He shared, “If you can contribute to our effort to create life, we welcome you.”
He is a living inspiration for us of getting up and going forward and using pain and challenges to bring a message of life and hope and music.
by Susie Garber
