Karen made aliyah with her family 27 years ago, filled with excitement and idealism. Like most people living in Israel, she never imagined we’d be in the state of war we now find ourselves in. Additionally, as a member of the chareidi community, she didn’t expect that she would one day have a son serving as a combat soldier in the army. But life is full of surprises. With humor combined with authenticity, Karen inspired a standing-room-only crowd of women in Ramat Beit Shemesh as she shared her experience of discovery and growth.
Karen’s son Aryeh did not find a place for himself when learning in yeshivah, and he felt he could protect am Yisrael better by serving in the army. He enlisted in the IDF. The army recognized Aryeh’s potential and promoted him up the ranks from soldier to commander and then to officer. Aryeh was home with his family on Simchas Torah.
Karen recalls the touching scene during the evening Hakafos when Aryeh held a sefer Torah while his brothers danced around him in a moving display of love, acceptance, and achdus. Karen understood that the precious moment was an eis ratzon and used the opportunity to daven, not knowing how necessary her t’filos would be for what happened the next day.
When the war broke out the next morning, Aryeh, once a fearful and questioning boy, left to fight for his nation, filled with conviction and purpose. Karen was bursting with pride when she gave him a brachah. Before he left, Aryeh asked that she daven for the chayalim. He knew he had the support of Torah and t’filah behind him.
Karen wasn’t too worried. Because Aryeh’s unit had recently finished training, she assumed they wouldn’t be given dangerous missions. It was also helpful that, as an officer, Aryeh kept his phone and could be in contact with his family. Many people took Aryeh’s name and davened for his safety.
One day, Aryeh called and told his mother about a miracle that had occurred that day. He and his fellow chayalim had been out in an open field (not in Gaza) when a rocket was launched in their direction. The Iron Dome didn’t react and there was nowhere to hide. At the last second, the Iron Dome intercepted the rocket and shrapnel fell everywhere. That incident made Karen realize that one place isn’t more dangerous than another. We are all in Hashem’s hands. We should daven, do mitzvos, and accrue z’chuyos to protect ourselves.
Karen’s husband told her that the t’filos, chesed, and pages of Gemara that were learned had protected the boys in the field that day. Karen explained that the world is not turning on Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden. It’s turning on Torah, avodah, u’g’milus chasadim, lovingkindness. That’s our ammunition. From that day, Karen decided to do as much davening and chesed as possible and to spread that message.
Aryeh was transferred to the Gefen Unit, a commander training program that takes soldiers from all parts of the army. The Gefen unit planned to go into Gaza, but their entry was delayed multiple times. The unit finally went into Gaza at sh’kiah one Friday evening, about a week before Chanukah. Religious and secular soldiers from all over Israel entered Gaza singing Shalom Aleichem. They went in for Hashem and for am Yisrael with t’filah on their lips.
Aryeh called his mother several times that week. He assured her that all was quiet. He and his fellow chayalim were bored. On the first night of Chanukah, Karen davened to Hashem, asking that He return light to the world. The next morning, on Erev Shabbos, Aryeh called to say that he had been wounded. A nurse then took the phone and told her that Aryeh was stable, and she should come to Assuta Hospital. With their children and grandchildren coming for Shabbos, Karen and her husband decided that he would stay home. Karen would take a cab to the hospital.
Karen was unaware of what awaited her at the hospital. She also did not realize that this was the beginning of a journey in which she would be exposed to the inner beauty of different types of Jews that she until then had limited exposure to. She would also come in contact with people who had never met a chareidi woman and have many opportunities to make a kiddush Hashem.
This journey began in the cab on the way to the hospital. Karen called her married children to tell them what had happened. When she finished making her calls, the driver suggested she daven for her son’s recovery. This isn’t something she expected.
When Karen arrived at the hospital, she was greeted by an entourage of eight people who were surprised to see she had come alone. They took her to the operating room where Aryeh was in surgery. The surgeon came out and explained that a huge piece of shrapnel had entered his lower abdomen, ripped through his bladder, colon, and large intestine, and knocked out the tubing connecting his kidney to his bladder. His protective vest had prevented further damage, baruch Hashem.
Karen listened to the surgeon’s report but didn’t fully absorb what she had heard. As it was almost time to light candles, she set herself up to spend Shabbos in the waiting room outside the ICU. The staff asked why she was worrying about Shabbos. Did she not hear what the doctor had said? Karen explained that she heard, but Shabbos is important to her. And she understood that Shabbos is m’kor ha’brachah, the source of blessing. Aryeh didn’t need her at that point. So, she could focus on keeping Shabbos. Karen made a kiddush Hashem that she had not intended to make.
Many people came to stay with the “chareidi woman who was all alone.” She became the recipient of overflowing ahavas chinam. A lady in jeans sat down next to her and explained that she had been in the hospital with her wounded son for three weeks. She came to tell Karen that Hashem Hu HaElokim. He is the One who heals. All He does is good. A couple that volunteers for Eizer MiZion, the Israel Health Support Organization, came with their four kids half an hour before Shabbos to bring her frenot, Moroccan bread. They also came back later to keep Karen company.
This support was heartwarming and gave her strength. It made her feel loved and empowered to get through her challenging situation. Karen met many people in the hospital. She realized that Hashem didn’t just send Aryeh to the hospital. He sent her to the hospital to meet all these people she would never have otherwise met.
To be continued…
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
