This week, our community is hosting ten severely wounded IDF soldiers. These soldiers have all been injured in Operation Swords of Iron and they are in NY to recuperate from their injuries and to receive love from the community.
One of these soldiers, Moshe*, shared his story, and I was blown away.
Moshe, 21 from Beit Shemesh, enlisted in the Golani Brigade in March 2021. On October 7, he was on the Kissufim base when Hamas attacked. Moshe was in charge of communications and radioed for help, only to find out that terrorists had overrun the entire south of Israel and they were on their own.
They were 10 soldiers up against an enormous amount of Hamas terrorists who had infiltrated Israel and their base and were firing RPGs, missiles, machine guns and grenades at them rapidly. The IDF soldiers tried their best to defend themselves.
Moshe heard a fellow soldier cry out for help so he raced over to help him. On the way, he was shot in the face. The bullet struck his jaw on the right side of his face and came out his neck on the left side.
His friend placed two fingers over the hole and had to keep them there for eight hours to save Moshe's life. There was no other option; no way to evacuate. By keeping his fingers there for hours upon hours he saved Moshe’s life.
Moshe has already had multiple surgeries to reconstruct his jaw, and faces multiple more upon his return to Israel.
Where were we when Moshe shared his story with me? Eating dinner at Wolf and Lamb Steakhouse!
Because of extensive nerve damage, Moshe finds it extremely painful to eat. He suffers with each bite. “Why eat steak?” I asked him. “Why not stick to yogurt and other soft foods that won’t cause pain?”
“Are you kidding?!” he exclaimed. “And let the terrorists defeat me? Every time I eat, it’s a victory over Hamas. I will eat and enjoy my steak, even if it’s painful. I won’t let them make me change anything in my life.”
So he enjoys every bite even though he is in pain from the nerve damage.
“What a hero!” I thought to myself. There is much we can learn from this young man!
Being Jewish requires sacrifice. It’s painful. We have to push ourselves past our comfort zone. Wake up a little early and put on tefillin, even though you’re exhausted. As difficult as it is, turn your phone off for 25 hours of Shabbat. Set aside time each day to study Torah, no matter how busy and overworked you are.
This week, as we celebrate Purim, we read all about the wicked Haman and the lengths he went to to try and kill all the Jews. Switch the “n” for an “s” and Haman becomes Hamas. And indeed, Hamas—the modern-day Haman—is trying their hardest to destroy us.
The story is both historic and contemporary.
But we will not be defeated. We survived then and we’ll survive now. It’s painful. It’s difficult. But just as Esther gathered the Jews together to pray and fast and beseech G-d for salvation, we will remain committed to our heritage and prevail over our blood-thirsty enemy.
Moshe, you are our hero and we will forever be grateful to you!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Uriel Vigler
*Name changed for privacy reasons