JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Kibbutz Beeri, which suffered the brunt of the vicious Hamas attacks, has not yet returned to normal. Some of the houses, many of which unfortunately have lost their owners, are now occupied by soldiers operating near the front line.
One of the soldiers described how the shul in the kibbutz was under lock and key.
“Its a shame,” one of the soldiers said. “We could have tefillos here and learning sessions.
Another soldier suggested calling the telephone of the Gabbai, a lady named Rachel, whose number was on the door. However he wasn’t sure if…..she was still alive.
A quick confirmation with the kibbutz’s security guard revealed that Rachel was alive, although not physically in the kibbutz. The soldiers called Rachel and she was absolutely overjoyed to hear that the shul would be active, not just on Shabbos but even during the week, three times a day for shiurim, Tefillos and Divrei Torah.
The shul’s code strangely prohibited saying Divrei Torah there, but Rachel was just waiting for such Divrei Torah. Her home was burnt to a cinder but her heart is full of yearning for holiness. She came back to Beeri to see what had happened to her husband’s Tefillin (which remained undamaged!) and her future son-in-law’s Talis. She also wanted to see what was happening in the shul.
Eilon, one of the soldiers said that “We received her with singing and dancing. However Rachel also brought with her a Sofer who began writing a Sefer Torah this week, in order to inaugurate it on the eve of Simchas Torah 5785.”
The soldiers asked Rachel how she had succeeded in establishing the shul (in 2015) in such a secular kibbutz. She explained that a shul can’t be built through disputes, only with true love. Showing tremendous empathy and joy, she managed to persuade the kibbutz to erect the shul. (One old-timer said that he hadn’t prayed for 60 years….)
It is the spiritual power of Rachel- from Beeri, as well as Rachel from Ofakim and all the other holy women, who will enable the shattered remnants of these kibbutzim and towns to rebuild their future even after such horrific events have transpired.
https://vinnews.com/2023/11/05/the-shul-in-kibbutz-beeri-comes-to-life/
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