Shevach High School students, like the rest of us, are deeply affected by the war impacting acheinu kol beis Yisrael. They conclude their davening every morning jointly saying T’hilim for their welfare, and have had initiatives to support the soldiers and their families. However, the girls wanted to do even more, in order to further connect with what our “brothers” and “sisters” are going through in Eretz Yisrael.
The Shevach girls recognize the m’siras nefesh of those families who have sons/fathers/husbands away from home for long stretches, risking their lives daily for klal Yisrael, and were looking for a way to actualize “imo anochi b’tzarah.”
At the same time, the Shevach administration heard about a wonderful initiative started by a Queens family, “Chayal of the Day,” which pairs up schools with communities in Eretz Yisrael. The Shevach students were eager to participate in this special program, and Shevach High School is now paired up with a “sister city” in Eretz Yisrael – Givat Shmuel. Every day, the community sends Shevach a name, family picture, and a short description of a chayal from Givat Shmuel. This soldier’s name and description is read aloud before the start of T’hilim, and the entire school’s learning of that day is dedicated as a z’chus for the soldier. The soldier’s family picture is also hung up on a bulletin board, where throughout the day girls can write messages of chizuk to the family. At the end of the day, the messages are emailed back to the Givat Shmuel family.
The messages of support, love, and admiration are certainly well appreciated by the brave families of Givat Shmuel. May all the t’filos and learning done in their z’chus bring about the end of this war, with all the captives and soldiers coming home safely, and with the coming of Mashiach bimheirah b’yameinu, Amein!
