24 | OCTOBER 19 • 2023 J
N

OUR COMMUNITY

W

hen the Hamas terror began
in Israel on Oct. 7, Shomer
Shabbat Jews who weren’t
answering their phones or checking
the news were among the last to know.
Still, the news made its way around the
community and put a damper on what
is supposed to be the happiest of all the
Jewish holidays. It was especially devas-
tating for those who have family mem-
bers in the IDF.
Margery Klausner of Southfield, moth-
er of a Lone Soldier who is currently on
active duty, had no idea what was hap-
pening in Israel as she walked to Young
Israel of Oak Park on Shabbat/Shemini
Atzeret morning. Young Israel’s Rabbi
Shaya Katz had been informed of the
news by the shul’s security guard, who is
not Jewish. Margery was shocked when
Rabbi Katz announced to his congrega-
tion in the middle of services that Israel
was at war.
“That’s how we found out what was
going on,” Margery said the following

Monday. “We were unable to use our
phones, but the next morning, our Israeli
friends at shul who don’t keep two days
of Yom Tov had their phones with them,
and they were able to contact our son for
us and make sure he was OK.”
Margery and her husband, Howard,
waited until after Simchat Torah was
over on Sunday night to reach out to
their son personally. For security rea-
sons, they cannot divulge where he is or
what he is doing, but they are grateful
that he has been in contact whenever he
can and leaves his worried parents loving
audio messages before every one of his
missions.
Even in the midst of the heartache,
Margery is finding comfort in the fact
that her son is finding so much love and
support in Israel.
“Our son had to go to base at 2 or 3
a.m., and private citizens were picking
up all these soldiers and driving them,
since there were no buses available. He
couldn’t believe the kindness of these

strangers to drive him and his fellow
paratroopers an hour out of their way in
the middle of the night.
He also told us, ‘Mom, you wouldn’t
believe it, all the stores are complete-
ly empty,’” repeated Margery. “Why?
Because everyone is buying food and
preparing food for the soldiers. He really
feels the love.”

Margery has also been feeling support-
ed personally. “It’s hard, I’m trying not
to watch the news. I’m just sitting by my
phone, and answering messages — and
there are a lot … Even people who I
haven’t heard from in years are reaching
out, wanting an update, requesting my
son’s Hebrew name, saying they’ll pray
for him. It took me around two hours
on Sunday night to respond to all those
messages. I am now up through the
night, constantly checking my phone …
I know everyone is so worried and wants
to do something, but there’s not much
we can do so far away; we can donate, we
can wait by the phone and we can pray.”

Lone
Soldiers

Moms of

Community supports parents
of those serving in the IDF.

ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

continued on page 26

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