At the end of Shabbat, I asked to take a photo with them. In this photo, you can see Liz Halfon's mother and two of her sisters. I hadn't heard about Liz until this past Shabbat. She and her husband Meir were murdered in Kibbutz Chulit on Simchat Torah morning. Their 8 year old daughter, Adi, survived the terrible massacre.
And this is just one story. More than 50 bereaved families were invited by the "Menucha V'Yeshua" organization to spend Shabbat together in Jerusalem. And so, more than a year after Simchat Torah, more and more stories that most of us simply don't know were told there. We probably will never understand what happened:
Rina Beilin is the mother of Oron who was murdered at the Nova festival. He was named after his grandfather, Dr. Aharon Beilin, a Holocaust survivor who testified at the Eichmann trial. Rina recalls longingly that Oron was an only child.
At the table next to her during Shabbat meals sat Yaakov and Marina Moshiashvili from Ashkelon. Their son Netanel, a Golani soldier, fell in battle 12 years ago, and then his brother Michael fell on October 7th. Marina wears a necklace with a picture of both of them – Netanel and Michael.
One after another, family members went up to the stage and spoke, about legacy, about heroism, and about the decision to cling to life. How important it is to give honor and appreciation, how important it is to give presence and space to so many precious souls.
It was amazing to see how Shabbat itself strengthens and heals. Without news updates, this gathering was the most real news. Every verse from the weekly Torah portion, every word from Shabbat songs, literally gave strength. (And it's a great wonder that the song "Od Yoter Tov V'Od Yoter Tov" ["Even Better and Even Better"] became a hit that people sing and dance to again and again, even on such a Shabbat...).
Bat-Galim Shaer, mother of Gilad Shaer, one of the three boys kidnapped 10 years ago, gave a strengthening lecture. A mother sitting next to me in the audience whispered hopefully: "Will I be able to speak like that in 10 years?"
The singers Yaakov Shwekey and Amir Dadon reminded everyone how melody, music, and singing, particularly together, give strength.
And the stand-up comedian Noya Mandel managed to make the whole group simply laugh.
"I haven't left the house since my son fell in battle during Chanukkah," said one of the mothers. "I certainly wouldn't have gone out on my own initiative for a Shabbat with songs and stand-up and good food. But what luck that I came."
Thanks to Rabbi Mendy Kenig, who initiated eight Shabbatot of this kind. But the goal isn't just to compliment him and the organization, the point is that you don't need to establish an organization: you can look for such families in the area and simply approach them. Talk, listen, be together on Shabbat or during the week, give space.
May we hear good news.
