Our hearts are absolutely shattered by the murder of our dear friend, Raz Mizrachi, may G-d avenge her blood.
Raz, with the infectious smile and the voice of an angel.
Raz, just 21 years old, who had already survived a previous terror attack.
Raz, who had seen and experienced too much, but remained charming, exuberant, and giving.
Raz, brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists last week. May G-d avenge her blood.
I first met Raz a year ago, when she came to New York with 11 other severely wounded IDF soldiers through our Belev Echad program. As part of the rehabilitation process, Belev Echad brings wounded soldiers on transformational trips across the world.
Raz was the main speaker at last year’s Belev Echad gala, held at Chelsea Piers and attended by 1,000 people. One thousand people listened to her story that night, and were inspired by her courage and light. One thousand people had tears in their eyes as she described the moment a terrorist rammed his car, at full speed, into her and her fellow soldiers, in Sheikh Jarach in May 2021. One thousand people heard Raz’s account of being so severely injured, she thought she was going to die, but she persevered and survived. One thousand people were uplifted when she declared, “The terrorist did not win. I won. I was victorious. I am still here and I love Israel more than anything else.”
When she returned to Israel after that trip, she started working at the Belev Echad house. Everyone loved working with her, myself included. I communicated with her multiple times a day. She was incredible.
Above all, her infectious smile stands out to everyone who knew her. Despite her pain, despite the terrible fear she had experienced and the difficult recovery she had to endure, she was a happy, upbeat person to be around.
Raz returned to us just last month when my wife Shevy organized a women’s challah bake and candle-lighting evening. Raz spoke again, and also sang for the 300 women and girls who attended. Her charm was magnetic; her voice that of an angel. More than that, she was just so sincere and heartfelt.
When Raz arrived, she brought Shevy a gift—a framed picture of the two of them at the gala, smiling, happy. When I looked at it this past Shabbat, I saw she had engraved on the frame, “Forever.”
The last place she visited in New York before her flight was the Ohel, the Rebbe’s resting place, where she prayed. She told her mother that this visit gave her clarity and strengthened her connection with G-d. May He avenge her blood.
What can we do in Raz’s memory? We can take upon ourselves a mitzvah in her honor, such as lighting Shabbat candles, putting on tefillin, going to shul, davening daily, putting mezuzahs up in your home and business, giving charity on a regular basis in her memory, or any other mitzvah that speaks to you.
Raz, as you ascend with your loving smile and pure heart, please beg the heavenly angels to bring Moshiach.
