Last week, I met an extraordinary hero, *Avshalom, who left an indelible mark on my life. Our Belev Echad community just finished hosting 11 wounded IDF soldiers for a 10-day restorative trip. Each soldier has an incredible story, but Avshalom's courage and resilience stand out.
On October 6th, Avshalom returned to Israel from a trip to South America. He had already been discharged from the army and had no requirement to go back and serve. But when war broke out on October 7th, instead of going straight to Ben Gurion airport and heading back to South America, he went to the south of Israel and joined his unit.
Avshalom and his friends from the Maglan unit were among the first to enter Gaza following the October 7th terrorist attack. On November 10th, during a search for terror tunnels in Beit Hanoun, his team encountered a hidden 100-kilogram bomb. Hamas terrorists detonated it, killing four soldiers and severely injuring six others including Avshalom. Despite losing both legs above the knee, damaging one eye, and injuring his right hand, Avshalom's positive attitude and warm smile inspire me daily.
At one of our breakfasts on the trip, I referred to Avshalom as a tremendous hero who gave his legs for Am Yisrael. Someone else pointed out that my choice of words was inaccurate, and that actually Avshalom lost his legs rather than giving them.
This subtle difference in language got me thinking—the distinction between giving and losing is profound.
Losing implies victimhood, a circumstance beyond his control, but giving implies a heroic act, a choice made for the greater good. Avshalom had already finished his army service but chose to re-enlist after October 7th, knowing the risks. He chose to fight and protect Am Yisrael against ruthless terrorists.
He is a true hero who gave his legs! He didn’t lose anything.
In the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s words, “There is no greater merit than to give of your own body to defend the Land of Israel and the holy nation of Israel.”
This dichotomy applies to our daily lives: there doesn’t exist a single person in the world who does not face obstacles and challenges. Not necessarily on the same scale as Avshalom’s challenges, but we all have them. We all deal with frustrations and pain, but we have the power to choose how we respond. Do we let circumstances defeat us, or do we transform them into opportunities for growth and empowerment?
Every day, we can ask ourselves, “Did I give or did I lose?” Because if we give, we are heroes, and if we lose, we are victims.
When I spend 10 minutes in the morning wrapping my tefillin and reciting the Shema, am I giving 10 minutes or am I losing 10 minutes?
When I give $1,000 to charity, am I giving $1,000 or am I losing $1,000?
When I go out of my way to visit a friend in the hospital, am I giving my time or am I losing it?
In the face of persistent antisemitism and ongoing conflict, Avshalom's story teaches us that even in darkness, we have the power to choose. We can choose to give—to sacrifice for something greater—or to let circumstances control us.
The choice is ours, every morning, every day.
Let us rise to the challenge, fulfill an extra mitzvah today, and bring goodness into the world.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Uriel Vigler
*Name changed to protect the privacy of the individual