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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