9 Tevet 5784
December 21, 2023
Dear K.I.N.S. Family
Today was a different kind of day, as our work moved indoors and shifted from supporting farmers to supporting soldiers in the field.
We began in Petach Tikvah in the underground garage of the headquarters of a pharmaceutical company called Medison. Medison is a well-known international firm founded by the Yaakovson family in 1996. Before October 7th, their primary philanthropic project was "HaTalmud HaYisraeli," a daf yomi program for young children that distills ideas and stories on each daf of Gemara and presents it in a way that even seven-year-olds can appreciate.
But on October 8th, Medison jumped into providing equipment for soldiers in the field - everything from thermal underwear to drones, generators to helmets. To date, they have delivered over 17,000 shipments to soldiers.
The operation, now dubbbed Medison-Aid, started small. But on the second or third day of the war, a man named David Hamelsdorf had a son in the army who needed some supplies, and someone suggested he ask Meir Yaakovson, who davened in the same shul as he did, to help. Within a week, Meir committed 1,000,000 NIS, then 2,000,000 NIS, and at present, over 20,000,000 to this cause - in addition to the equipment and donations from all over the world. Two jumbo-jets recently came with donated supplies and equipment - one from LA and another from NY.
What did we do at Medison? We were filling orders from chayalim, packing them, and getting them ready to be trucked by volunteers to army bases in the North and the South. There were phone batteries, thermal blankets, tourniquets, socks, underwear ( - soldiers in Gaza can go 50 days without laundry - the only option is new underwear), burn kits, and so much more.
Of course, because the volunteers who created this operation came from the business world, everything is computerized, and the orders popped-up on our phones. Checking their phones, the kids went from place to place in the garage and grabbed the supplies. And then, I saw something that "blew me away," after our students packed and sealed the boxes, affixed the Medison Aid sticker (with a QR for soldiers to order more supplies), and the shipping label, they signed the boxes and added a bracha for the chayalim.
As has been true of every place we've gone, the volunteers who run this operation were amazed that we came but so very grateful that we were there to help. One woman even gave her number to the girls inviting them to come to her for a Shabbat next year when they are in seminary.
From there, we traveled to Chamal Yerushalayim. In army terminology, a cha"mal is a cheder milchama - a "war room" form which the battle is run. But since October 7th, the term has been appropriated by volunteers to refer to grassroots operations that supply the needs of soldiers.
This chamal was created by Michael Cohen, a marketing professional who started using his contacts immediately after the war began to supply soldiers with their needs. Unlike Medison, which will take requests directly from soldiers, this operation, located in the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo, works with officers in the field.
Our job in the chamal was to help prepare Shabbat food for 3500 soldiers in the field. I asked Michael why it was necessary - doesn't the army provide food? His answer was simple: it does, but we provide food for Shabbat that has a homecooked feeling and reminds the soldiers that we are with them.
This entire operation is taking place in a house scheduled for demolition but has been donated by its owners for this amazing project, which brings together all of Am Yisrael. There was a definite Sefardi flavor to the operation, but there were people there volunteering with kipot and without, with payot and with tattoos.
One older woman who was also volunteering walked in and asked about our group. I explained to her who we were, and her response was אתם עם ישראל היפה ביותר בעיני - In my eyes, you are the most beautiful expression of Am Yisrael. And Michael gave all our students a bracha of "May you continue to do and to give," which I pray will come true for all our children - the future leaders of Am Yisrael.
As I watched his operation in progress, I asked Michael how it was funded. He answered that "it all works out." This really means that he does what needs to happen, and he looks to G-d to help people see the importance and sincerity of his work and donate to the cause. And G-d has been pretty good about it! Because despite the donated building and supplies he receives, his monthly budget is 600,000 NIS, and he continues to expand the operation, not taking even a penny for himself (something that is true of so many projects that started after the war).
I so proud of our students' energy to do chesed. But even more, I am humbled by the grassroots entrepreneurial spirit of those who have created and funded projects that support all of Am Yisrael during this war. And I am grateful that I've had a chance to be part of those efforts and tangibly help the chayalim and the mefunim (the displaced).
Tonight is Asarah b'Tevet, and tomorrow, beginning at 6:02 is the fast day - the only one that can occur on a Friday (and according to some, could theoretically even occur on a Shabbat were it not for our fixed Jewish calendar, which precludes that). We will be starting the day davening at the home of Netanel Silberg, הי"ד, who was killed in Gaza, and moving on to the Har Herzl to visit the graves of the kedoshim who have given their lives for our people.
As a result, it too, will be a very different day for our students. Still, I'm sure it will be very meaningful as they continue to experience first-hand what it means to be part of Am Yisrael - having worked the land, supported the defenders of our people, and tomorrow, remembering those who sacrificed their lives so that we can be safe, and build a bright and glorious future.
B'vracha,
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky
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