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DECEMBER 14 • 2023 | 7
J
N
unity and volunteerism is
shining brightly.
This year, I am celebrat-
ing the miracle of solidarity.
Grassroots efforts have
popped up overnight like
nothing Israel has ever
seen. Meals have been dis-
tributed, people have been
welcomed into homes, and
thousands of reservists,
130% of those called up,
have reported for duty.
The amount of dona-
tions: food, clothing, toys,
rides, visits, hugs, army
supplies, medications and
more that have been offered
to those in need has been
astounding. Our collective
resolve in the face of the
horrors is nothing short of
miraculous, and a reminder
of what we are capable of
when we band together.
And I am celebrating the
miracle of heroism. In the
face of the Oct. 7 horrors,
so many heroes have risen
to defend our brethren.
I carry with me the
memory of Ohr Torah
Stone alumnus Elhanan
Kalmanson z”l, who drove
with his brother and neph-
ew to Be’eri on the morning
of Oct. 7 on their own and
managed to rescued dozens
of victims.
I am thinking of Aner
Elyakim Shapiro z”l, who
protected a packed public
bomb shelter by throwing
the hand grenades that
terrorists had tossed inside
back out and finally falling
on the last one to absorb
the impact to protect oth-
ers. And, at the same time,
those continuing to cele-
brate life, including Aner’s
sister who got engaged just
last week, have exhibited
tremendous courage to
push on despite the pain
and the grief.
This Chanukah, I bask
in the light of the heroism
of our soldiers — includ-
ing countless members
of the OTS family. The
courage of their families
and of all those maintain-
ing the homefront is as
much a Divine gift as the
Maccabean initiative.
And I am celebrating this
state, and what it means to
live in the Jewish home-
land in the 21st century.
Even in the wake of the
largest pogrom since the
Holocaust, we cannot lose
sight of our good fortune.
Never again can we be
decimated, for we have a
land of our own and the
resolve needed to defend
it. To witness the return of
the Jewish people to our
sacred homeland is a living
miracle, and it is the anchor
of our confidence in these
uncertain times.
Bayamim hahem uvizman
hazeh, in those days and at
this time. In the midst of
the grief and the fear, there
are miracles all around us,
just as there were long ago.
Like the Maccabees, we face
a challenging threat, but we
are resolutely committed
to our cause. As we move
forward, our challenge is to
not lose sight of these mira-
cles, to be inspired by them,
empowered to persevere
until the darkness of this
moment is overtaken by a
great, shining light.
No matter what comes,
we can face it together.
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is
president and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr
Torah Stone, an Israel-based network
of 30 educational and social action
programs transforming Jewish life,
living and leadership in Israel and
across the world.
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