A Yom Kippur reflection

September 27, 2009 - 10:29 AM by David · 2 Comments
Filed under: A New Reality, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Life

IDF soldiers on the mend, visiting the Sataf cheese factory.

As we enter Yom Kippur, here’s a little anecdote to help us remember that we aren’t islands, and not only do we all need help, but we also need to give help.

A Package From Home, a grassroots organization based in Jerusalem that has been providing care packages for IDF soldiers for many years, also organized Respite Weekends for soldiers who had been severely wounded during their service to the country. Here’s the organization’s founder and director Barbara Silverman describing a recent weekend at Jerusalem’s Inbal Hotel for 15 soldiers.

“[The soldiers] were directed to their rooms where they were greeted with a welcoming basket of fresh fruit. Later that evening, they left for a banquet dinner at the
beautiful Papagaio restaurant, a short distance away.

At the restaurant, I was, once again, struck to see how young these soldiers were. I noticed a young man who was painfully thin and asked our liaison at the hospital about him. He explained that his wounds were not visible but rather he had suffered extensive internal surgeries and was now just beginning to be able to enjoy normal food.

Some of the soldiers were wearing artificial limbs and they were in the process of receiving
rehabilitation treatments to teach them to how use these aids properly. Each soldier had his own story to tell. After being in the hospital for so many months, the group was delighted to be able to share this weekend together. Several other diners at the hotel reported that a wonderful time was had by all.

They spent Friday afternoon visiting the nearby Sataf Cheese Farm, where they learned how different cheeses were made. The farm was wheel chair accessible and extremely enjoyable. Later that day, they enjoyed hanging out and swimming at the hotel pool before getting ready for Shabbat. That evening they shared a festive Friday night dinner and on Saturday, they enjoyed the famous Israeli breakfast and the incredible Shabbat buffet lunch. That evening, they left the hotel, rested, relaxed and feeling ready to face the next round of operations and rehabilitation treatments.

When the soldiers take their oath of allegiance to the IDF, they hold a Bible in one hand and their weapon in the other hand. They promise to protect the Land of Israel and the People of Israel. When they say the People of Israel, they mean all of us, where ever we live and not only those of us living inside of Israel. These soldiers have fulfilled their obligation and they have paid a heavy price. When they complete their treatments they will be living with the memory of that heavy price. Those memories will last a life time.

Following the weekend, Silverman received the following letter from the soldiers.

We thank you for your warm hospitality and that you gave us a place in your hearts. Because of people like you it is possible to believe in the realization of dreams.

With great appreciation….

The severely wounded from Tzahal and the volunteers from the Rehabilitation Center in Tel Hashomer Hospital.

“In order to fulfill an old dream
There is a need for one million dreamers who don’t blink their eyes…
And are willing to come close to their dream
Those who still remember how to ease the pain…”
Words by Ehud Manor – from the song Little Dream.

G’mar Hatima Tova.

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