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One of the IDF soldiers currently here in New York as part of our Belev Echad tour is Noam. 

While working in the IDF, Noam’s job involved driving a bull dozer and clearing mines. Unfortunately, during Operation Protective Edge, his entire body was burned in a terrible oil explosion. 

During dinner one night this week, Noam sat next to Yankel, one of our congregants. They chatted about this and that, and Noam happened to mention that since he was a young child, he had always dreamed about driving a Porsche. Even all these years later, after his life has changed so drastically, this dream has remained a constant. 

Well, Yankel needed to hear no more. He arrived the next day with his sleek Porsch, surprising Noam with it. He handed over the keys and Noam was able to drive around to his heart’s content, at long last fulfilling his life-long dream. 

Noam, of course, was thrilled. It was patently clear how happy he was driving that Porsche. Interestingly, Yankel was no less euphoric than Noam! From the smile on his face, it was clear he, too, was ecstatic. In fact, perhaps he was even happier!

Our sages teach that the joy of giving is greater even than the joy of receiving. When a person is given something, he receives something quantifiable. He knows exactly what it is. But at the same time, he gives the giver a much larger gift—the gift of giving. 

When we give to others we connect with the Divine, which is what makes the joy of giving so great. 

This Purim, let’s enjoy the gift of giving. Let’s think of those who need our charity, and keep them in mind when we do the mitzvah of matanot la’evyonim. Think of someone who might not receive mishloach manot from anyone else, and go out of your way to give to them. Not only will you be giving to others, they will be giving you the gift of giving. 

Purim sameach!

Every year I study the Torah portion of Vayikra when it comes around, but this year, thanks to a recent encounter, I understood the parshah—which talks about sacrifices—in a whole new way.

This week I met Shaul, an IDF soldier our community is hosting for 10 days in NYC. When Israel launched Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, Shaul was already 46.

In Israel every adult is obligated to do military duty for three years when they turn 18. It is mandatory. Then, when those three years are over, all soldiers are required to do reserve duty for one month a year. Shaul did all this, sacrificing much of his life for his country, and by age 40 he was exempt from any further commitment.

Nevertheless, with his country at war, Shaul could not stand back and watch. He volunteered to serve his country yet again, this time in Operation Protective Edge.

Stationed on a battlefield near Bari, Shaul’s unit was hit in a devastating missile attack. Four of his friends were killed, and several others injured. Shaul was severely sounded. His left hand was smashed, and full of shards from the explosion, leaving him permanently handicapped.

This was someone who volunteered. He certainly did not have to fight. But he did, and now his life is drastically different as a result. He lost his job. He cannot work. He cannot perform basic functions. He cannot sleep at night. He suffers constant, debilitating pain.

But despite all that, when I asked Shaul if he regrets volunteering, he responded, “Not only do I not regret it, but if Israel went to war again, I would gladly volunteer again to protect our people.”

Shaul’s dedication gave me an insight into true sacrifice. We no longer have Temple sacrifices, but our sages teach us that in current times, we need to sacrifice of ourselves for G-d.

If Shaul can sacrifice his hand, his job and his life to protect us, then surely we can make small sacrifices in our lives, for G-d. Let’s take upon ourselves to give a little more charity, learn some more Torah, spend more time with our children and do more mitzvot. Our small sacrifices add up, and together we can make a difference.