| Erev Shabbat - Parashat Emor 5784 | 9 Iyar 5784 - May 17, 2024 | | 
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| |  | Featuring Thought-Provoking Questions, Fun Activities, and Fascinating Insights! | | |  Transforming from Exile to Redemption | Emor 5784
Rav Doron Perez
Executive Chairman of Mizrachi World Movement
The month of Iyar and Sefirat HaOmer are the opposite of what the Torah says it should be.
We are in a time of mourning – no shaving, no weddings, etc. But the Torah, in this week's parasha, says it is supposed to be a time for counting 50 days of anticipation towards receiving the Torah. Yet, it has become a time of mourning.
How did this happen? As is known, the students of Rabbi Akiva died during this time, and that decimated the Torah world of the time, but also any hope of returning to the Land. Most of us think that after the destruction of the Temple most of the Jews left the Land of Israel, but that is not true. The vast majority remained in the Land, but the real destruction was 65 years later with the failed Bar Kochba revolt when almost 600,000 Jews were killed in the battles, at the same time that Rabbi Akiva's students died. Many other Jews were then sent into exile, which was the end of organized settlement in the Land. So, Iyar became a time of decimation of hope to return to the Land.
Yet, in our generation, the month of Iyar has become the month of redemption with 5 Iyar, Yom HaAtzmaut, marking the return to the land, and 28 Iyar, Yom Yerushalayim, marking the return to Jerusalem. Incredibly, Iyar is being transformed from exile to redemption in our times thanks to the great hope and promise of the State of Israel. In the merit of the return to the land and the terrible price that has already been paid, may this month be transformed back into the great days of anticipation for the receiving of the Torah. | | Emor 5784 Rabbanit Dr. Tamara Spitz,
Rosh Beit Midrash of Midreshet Torah v'Avodah | | | Counting Our Change Rabbi Stewart Weiss  Our Sedra devotes a full section, in its discussion of the Moadim/Festivals, to the Omer and its rituals. But what is quite strange is that rather than discuss the Omer in the section dealing with Pesach - where you'd think it would naturally belong - the Torah starts a whole new section, ("Speak to Bnei Yisrael," etc.) on the subject of the Omer. Why the separate section?
Rav Soloveichik offers a fantastic insight.
Pesach is a time of unlimited joy and achievement.
Anything we truly desire to attain is attainable on Pesach. The Exodus from Egypt and our liberation from slavery, leading us to become the greatest nation on Earth, are among the many miracles of Nisan, and attest to the Nisim and Niflaot - the wonders and miracles – that are possible this month.
But Sefira, counting, is by its very definition imperfect and lacking. The fact that we are building up towards some-thing indicates that we have not yet attained it; we're still missing something, and apparently we have a long way to go until we achieve it.
Says the Rav: This is the paradox of Man. On the one hand, Man is G-d's greatest creation, king of all other creatures, virtually limitless in his ability to create new worlds. "What man can perceive, man can achieve." Yet at the same time, man must set certain limits for himself and recognize his own mortality. He must never be fully satisfied with where he is today, but rather must seek to grow in holiness and G-dliness and come closer to Hashem. Each day is an achievement, a plateau - but tomorrow we must scale even higher! And that is why the greatest praise we can bestow upon a scholar is to call him a Talmid Chacham, a student seeking even more wisdom.
Note that the word Omer is used not only in connection to Sefira, but also in relation to the Mahn that fell from Heaven. Mahn is a metaphor for money (mahn-ee!). We can achieve amazing things with wealth but it, too, has its limits.
So while working and earning are necessary, G-d commands us to stop collecting it when Shabbat comes.
Perhaps now we have a deeper understanding of why the Torah says that we begin counting the Omer mi-macharat Ha-Shabbat, on the day following the "Shabbat" (which Chazal interpret as referring to the 1st day of Passover).
Only when Shabbat was over, could the people collect the Mahn; and only when the first Chag of Pesach ends, did they bring the Omer. The lesson:
Yes, Man must strive for his daily bread, but he must also know that it is spiritual richness - as represented by Shabbat and Pesach - which is the true pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
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Iyar – A Month Like No Other Rabbi Doron Perez  Iyar is the only month where the religious experience today is the opposite of what it was designated to be in Biblical times.
Iyar in the Torah was designated as a month of total anticipation and elation as we count up to the receiving of the Torah. The Sefer HaChinuch tells us that each day we count signifies a step of growing excitement as we prepare to re-experience our rendezvous with Divine revelation.
Yet, Jewish experience in the 2nd century changed all this, and it is now primarily a time of pain, tragedy and mourning. The sudden and tragic death of the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, which happened predominantly in the month of Iyar, sharply altered the religious and emotional experience of this month.
Why did this particular tragedy, as opposed to so many other tragic massacres, evoke a time of collective mourning for future generations?
Undoubtedly, the death of such a large quantity and quality of Talmudic scholars effectively resulted in the decimation of Torah learning in Judea – an enormous tragedy in and of itself. But there is a twist in the plot. Although the Talmud mentions that they died of a disease called "askara," perhaps diphtheria, Rav Shreira Gaon maintains that they died as a result of "shmad" – a religious war. This means that they died during the Bar Kochba rebellion, as this was the only religious war at that time. Not sickness alone, therefore, caused this destruction but rather their death at the hands of the Romans.
Understanding the depth of the tragic failure of the Bar Kochba rebellion is crucial to understanding the depth of the loss and mourning that ensued.
The fall of Beitar and the vanquishing of the rebellion is one of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history. The Rambam goes as far as to say that this loss was as tragic as the day of the destruction of the Temple itself. Why?
Because of both the unparalleled loss in human terms as well as the devastating impact of these events on the national psyche. Historians at that time write that, in terms of human loss, the Bar Kochba rebellion was even more tragic quantitatively than in the Churban of Yerushalayim 65 years prior.
An additional element is that while many were killed and exiled, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, the vast majority of Jews remained in Judea, building thriving communities with the Sanhedrin relocating to Yavneh. There was still hope for an imminent rebuilding of Jerusalem, just as it had been rebuilt following the previous 70-year Babylonian exile. Indeed, this was the aim and hope of Bar Kochba's rebellion, supported by Rabbi Akiva. However, with the horrific fall of Beitar, a new period in history was ushered in. Judea was laid waste, the national infrastructure was destroyed and hope for imminent return was lost. This exile would be longer.
Iyar, the great month of spiritual exhilaration, was turned into a darker time of mourning for the destruction of the Torah world, and the loss of hope of the return to Jerusalem.
In the modern era, the month of Iyar has begun to be redeemed!
In addition to Lag BaOmer on the 18th of Iyar, we have two new modern miracle days of exhilaration – both signifying the beginning of redemption. The 5th of Iyar – the miraculous establishment of the State of Israel, and the 28th of Iyar – the liberation of the Old City of holy Jerusalem. Baruch Hashem, Iyar is slowly returning to its former glory from days of mourning of 'Sefira' to days of 'Sefirat HaOmer' – the anticipation with exhilaration of the wheat offerings in the Temple and the collective national acceptance of our treasured Torah.
Yom HaAtzmaut Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Doron Perez is the Executive Chairman of World Mizrachi. | |  | | Chicago Mizrachi Pina Chama in Itamar
dedicated in honor of our
Chayalim Bodedim
Maintenance costs for the month of
Iyar 5784
have been sponsored
in memory of
Sarah bat Yaakov Dov Ber v'Henya, z"l
by her family
| | | To watch and view the picture gallery of the Mizrachi Chicago Pina Chama in Itamar Dedication and Hachnasat Sefer Torah in the Shomron (July 30, 2023)
CLICK HERE | | | Israel marks first wartime Independence Day 'The War Didn't Break Our Spirit' – Israel marks somber Independence Day in the shadow of October 7th and the ongoing Gaza war. Sveta Listratov  Holiday traditions had to be rethought and revamped because Israel never celebrated Independence Day in wartime. That meant changing, among other things, the torch-lighting ceremony marking the transition from the solemnity of Memorial Day to the joy of Independence Day.
"We will not be able to hold the torch lighting ceremony as every year. And yet, the State of Israel must mark its independence; the flag cannot remain at half-mast. We have much to be proud of," insists Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who was tasked with overseeing the annual ceremony.
"There are usually between 12-14 torch lighters each year. This year we had to change it to 44, to be able to celebrate all those different groups and communities who showed great heroism and sacrifice in the face of the war we are still fighting," she explained.
As a security precaution, the ceremony was filmed ahead of time, on Thursday evening, without a live audience.
During the evening, The Press Service of Israel spent time with Irene Nurith Cohn and Basma Hino, two remarkable women among the many Israelis honored for their bravery.
Recovering Bodies and Bearing Witness
"It is important to hold the ceremony this year, so that our enemies know they didn't break our spirits. We are a strong people, we need to keep living and loving the life", Irene Nurith Cohn says. She lights the torch of The Rescue Forces on behalf of the ZAKA organization in which she volunteers.
Amidst the chaos and devastation following Hamas's October 7th attack, ZAKA volunteers were tasked with the solemn duty of recovering the bodies of the victims.
"Accepting the honor of lighting the torch filled me with both excitement and humility, knowing that many others from ZAKA could equally stand by my side or in my place. It's not about me, but about what we witnessed there. It's a tremendous and deeply moving privilege," Cohn insists.
One week after October 7, Cohn was part of a team recovering bodies along on the Gaza border and meticulously cleaning blood-stained homes
When her mission ended months later, Cohn took it upon herself to participate in lectures recounting the events of October 7. She currently represents ZAKA on overseas missions, sharing her experiences with anyone open to listening.
"I sense that I have never left the Gaza border since then. Returning to ordinary life feels impossible after such an experience," Cohn explains. "I am privileged to continue the activity."
Feeding Hungry Soldiers
"Never in my life have I imagined myself taking part in something like this. What a remarkable honor," says Basma Hino, walking along the pathways of Mount Herzl, surrounded by people from all corners of the country and walks of life.
Amidst escalating tensions along Israel's border with Lebanon, she transformed her restaurant in the Druze village of Julis into a vital kosher resource for soldiers stationed in the area. As a result, she is part of a group lighting the Torch of Giving.
"I want to feed all the Israeli soldiers! They all are like my children, doesn't matter their background", she insists. The commitment is rooted in her family's history. Basma's late husband, Marcel, sustained severe injuries during an army mission in 2002, leaving him hospitalized for over a decade before he passed away.
Basma persevered, harnessing her passion for baking to later establish the restaurant, "Noor."
As the war intensified and tourism dwindled, Basma and her son Noor took action, repurposing leftover food supplies to craft meals for soldiers. Their initial effort, born out of a desire to honour Marcel's memory, evolved into a full-fledged commitment to make the restaurant kosher, ensuring accessibility for all soldiers.
Basma dedicates one day each week to preparing meals exclusively for soldiers, with the support of volunteers who come via the Jewish National Fund-USA.
"During this period, there aren't as many visitors to the restaurant, especially with the area heating up and recent rocket attacks on our village," Hino notes with worry. "It's evident that situation is escalating, which is why it's crucial for me to keep focusing on the project of providing meals for soldiers. That's the priority right now. Hopefully we will be able to do so as long as needed and our initiative will attract donations and volunteers." For Basma, the restaurant serves as more than just a place of business—it's a symbol of solidarity and bridging divides. "As a Druze it is very important for me to strengthen the relationship between the Druze and the Jews," Hino insists. "We all live here together; we fight the war together and at my restaurant we cook shoulder to shoulder for our hero soldiers." worldisraelnews.com | |  | WATCH: Israel kicks off 76th Independence Day with torch-lighting ceremony The October 7th invasion and massacres highlighted as Israel marks a somber 76th Independence Day – its first since the Hamas attacks.
Note: Debra Silverstein is at 1:01 mark where she lit the torch worldisraelnews.com | |  On Monday afternoon, May 12 th, Chicagoans in Israel had the opportunity to meet and publicly thank Alderman Debra Silverstein for her unwavering support of Israel in the Chicago City Council. The Alderman was chosen to light one of the twelve torches, traditionally lit in Israel in honor of Yom Ha'Atzmaut. Debra was chosen to light the torch on behalf of Diaspora Jewry. Needless to say, we former Chicagoans residing in Israel were bursting with pride. With thanks to Rabbi Levi Mostofsky of the cRc, Rabbi Jerry Isenberg of the RZC and many others, an event was held at World Mizrachi in Jerusalem to honor Debra. After an introduction (see below) and after viewing a clip from October 13, 2023, of Debra standing up to hatred in the City Council, we heard her remarks and experiences. The alderman gave us chizuk and she received chizuk from us and from all whom she met here in Israel. It was a whirlwind few days and, in her words, "an experience she will never forget." Approximately thirty Chicagoans were present. Some of whom had made Aliya in the past couple of years and some who have been in Israel since the 60's! It was indeed a beautiful event. Below are some of my remarks made while introducing her. Exactly 130 years ago, a trial in a courtroom was held in France. A man named Alfred Dreyfus was accused of espionage against the French government. While we all know that eventually he was exonerated, his trial brought out the worst in people and in particular the worst in the rabid antisemitism of the day. A young reporter, named Theodore Herzl, a correspondent for the Neue Freie Presse of Vienna sat in the gallery and watched and observed the proceedings. He was shocked by what he saw and heard and, as they say, the rest is history. It is in that spirit that we sit here this evening! (I listed some of her accomplishments in the city of Chicago at this point) There is so much more, but for now, I wish to highlight the reason for our being here together this evening. Like Herzl, Alderman Silverstein witnessed the vitriol and hate of antisemitism live. Like Herzl, she did not remain silent. Like Herzl, she stood up for her People (not only the 50 th ward!) and her nation, the Land of Israel. In a video from the Chicago City Council chambers that went viral, which you will see before Debra gets up to speak, the harassment against her and the People (capital P) whom she represents was devastating. It had the seething hatred of centuries of Jew-hatred and hostility. It COULD have been paralyzing. It could have caused our dear friend, Debra, to sit down or walk out.  But, on the contrary! She stood up proudly as a Chicagoan, a US citizen, an alderman and most importantly, as a Jew. She spoke her mind, enabled the passing of a resolution supporting Israel and made a huge Kiddush Hashem. The hate and vitriol continue to this day: On her Twitter page, when she posted about her visit to Israel, she was again met with the same rhetoric online. From where does she get her strength? In Tanach, there is one Devorah who stands out: דבורה הנביאה. She is a powerful judge, leader, and prophet. In addition, she is known as אשת לפידות. Rashi points out that this meaning of LAPIDOT is הכוונה היא ... 'אישה לפידית', אישה נלהבת ולוהטת Debra is a woman on fire! And that is why it is most fitting that she will be lighting one of the torches on Yom HaAtzmaut-Lapid MEANS torch! She is our torch, our representative in Chicago and around the world. She is a symbol of standing up for what is right and calling out hate, when she encounters it. Alderman Silverstein: On behalf of Jews everywhere, we thank you for your service, your care, your compassion, and your honesty in the face of tremendous odds. You bring pride to the Jewish people and more specifically, to those of us from Chicago…we could not be prouder! Rabbi Zev Shandalov | | | Their stories: These are the 5 fallen heroes killed by friendly-fire in Gaza The young paratroopers all had deep roots in Zionism and shared traits of service of others, love of country and an understanding of the sacrifices that come with them Elisha Ben Kimon, Nir Cohen, Gilad Cohen, Israel Moskowitz, Ra'anan Ben Zur, Itamar Eichner, Yael Ciechanover  Gilad Aryeh Boim, Daniel Chemu, Ilan Cohen, Roy Beit Yaakov, Betzlel David Shashuah
Sergeant Ilan Cohen, 20, a lone soldier from Argentina, was killed in Jabaliya in a friendly-fire incident on Wednesday near Jabaliya in Gaza. Captain Roy Beit Yaakov, 22, who became the 21st fallen graduate of the Eli pre-military academy, was also killed. During the intense fighting in Gaza, he managed to meet up with his father, who was on reserve duty in the Strip. Alongside them, Staff Sergeant Gilad Arye Boim, 22, Staff Sergeant Betzlel David Shashuah, 21, and Sergeant Daniel Chemu, 20, also fell in the tragic incident.
Cohen's parents, David and Adriana from Carmiel, were informed of his death while still in Argentina by the Israeli ambassador. They are now making their way to Israel. Cohen had moved to Israel after finishing high school in Argentina. He initially studied at the Chabad Yeshiva in Migdal HaEmek and, since last December, had been a student at the Har Bracha Yeshiva before joining the Paratroopers Brigade, Battalion 202.
A rabbi from the umbrella organization of the Jewish community in Argentina eulogized him, saying: "The Jewish community in Buenos Aires is in deep mourning due to the fall of Sgt. Ilan Cohen, the first lone soldier from Argentina to fall in war." He will be buried at the Mount Herzl military cemetery. Rabbi Akiva Goldschmidt, the spiritual director at the Chabad Yeshiva in Migdal HaEmek where Cohen studied, reflected: "Ilan came to us as a teenager from Argentina at the age of 18 and studied here for about a year and a half before moving to the Har Bracha Yeshiva and joining the paratroopers.
"He was a bright boy full of life's joy, deeply connected to Israel – a true Zionist who came to Israel to enlist in the IDF. He spoke passionately about it in the yeshiva, and we all knew he was in the paratroopers. He sent us pictures, updated us on his enlistment and progress, visited the yeshiva often after his enlistment, and remained very connected to us. We are all in shock and mourning this tragedy."
Captain Roy Beit Yaakov from Eli left behind his parents, Hadas and Avidan (the head of the settlement), and seven siblings: Shahar, Yonatan, Eitan, Ya'ara, Yuval, Naama and Inbal. His family fondly remembered him as "a quiet and gentle warrior, humble and modest, focused on what mattered to him. He had a sense of humor, gentle sarcasm and loved pampering his family and cooking for them. He cherished his friends and the small, good things in life."
His father shared poignant memories in an interview with Ynet: "Roy was a sweet kid, very excited when he joined the army. At home, we saw his sweetness, but in the army, they saw his precision and professionalism. Roy wasn't a man of many words; he just acted quietly and precisely, deeply believing in his mission. We often discussed the price he might pay – it didn't deter him. The possibility of something happening to him came up in our conversations, sometimes with cynicism or during casual chats."
"We also had the honor of fighting together in Khan Younis," Avidan Beit Yaakov said. "It's a war, but I felt it was the highest place one could be – a father and son together for the people of Israel. We talked about these things. When you go there, you know that's the price you might pay. Our last conversation was during the Independence Day ceremony. I am the head of the Eli settlement, and I was sitting next to the Finance Minister Smotrich when Roy called to say, 'Dad, we're going in.' I wished him well, told him to do the job right, and that was it – a minute-long call in the midst of the ceremony, and that's how we said goodbye."
Staff Sergeant Gilad Arye Boim from Karnei Shomron was the youngest of five siblings. His uncle, journalist and radio broadcaster Kalman Liebskind, eulogized him: "Gilad, our beloved nephew, a child full of light and goodness, a loyal soldier of this good land, was killed defending the homeland." Chemi Trachtenberg, a soldier in the Haredi Arrow Company of the paratroopers, also paid tribute on the X platform: "My friend Gilad Boim fell in the Gaza Strip. He was a golden guy, always caring for every soldier with all his heart."
Yonathan Kuznitz, head of the Karnei Shomron Municipal Council, paid tribute to the young soldier. "The Karnei Shomron community bows its head and mourns the loss of Gilad. A Zionist and devoted family, part of the core founding families of Karnei Shomron. Gilad's grandfather, Yehoshua Israeli, was a fighter sentenced to death by the British but survived and built a magnificent family. Gilad is the fifth casualty from Karnei Shomron since the beginning of the operation, and we pray he will be the last. The council team and I are here for the Boim family, who paid the ultimate price, and we will support them in any way needed. May we be worthy of Gilad and all IDF soldiers and security forces who gave their lives for us."
Sergeant Daniel Chemu from Tiberias left behind his parents, Eliyahu and Sarah, and his family who reside in Netanya. A former teacher, Adi Carmi, recalled him as a teenager. "Daniel came from an ultra-Orthodox family and joined us at 15 and a half. He was a very curious, smart, socially active and sensitive teenager, a role model for many students, who used to volunteer before Purim and Passover to help needy families. A boy with a big heart."
Mira Duchan, his high school principal, added: "Daniel always participated in all school activities. We accompanied his enlistment process and were proud that he reached meaningful and valuable service in the paratroopers. He always aspired to significant service and fulfilled his dream. He took part in the 'Aharai' (Follow Me) program in Tiberias, and last Sunday we sent him a motivational video before he entered Gaza. He sent us a picture from the beret ceremony in Gaza a few months ago. A teacher from the staff personally accompanied him since his enlistment."
Staff Sergeant Betzlel David Shashuah from Tel Aviv leaves behind his parents, Shai and Galit, and four siblings– one brother and three sisters. He was educated at the religious Imrei David Talmud Torah elementary school and continued his studies at the Yedidya Yeshiva high school in Petah Tikva. ynetnews.com | | How ordinary citizens became superhuman on October 7: A new book recounts their tales Author Nachum Avniel's 'We're On Our Way: The Civilians Who Saved Lives On October 7' focuses on everyday heroes to highlight the oft-overlooked greatness Israelis hold within Sue Surkes  Rami Davidian, 59, a soft-spoken father of four and a fuel distributor by trade, might seem like an unlikely hero.
But on October 7, the resident of Moshav Patish near the Gaza border metamorphosed into a guardian angel who used his knowledge of the local terrain to rescue some 700 young people hiding from Hamas terrorists, who had attacked an overnight music festival near Kibbutz Re'im.
He drove repeatedly into life-threatening situations, dodging Hamas bullets to locate and bring back to his home shocked revelers who were hiding in ditches, and behind and up trees, terrified that the gunmen would find them. In all, the thousands of Hamas-led terrorists who stormed into southern Israel butchered some 1,200 people in communities near the Gaza border, most of them civilians, and kidnapped 252 more to the Gaza Strip. A relative of Oz Davidian, who also saved dozens of party-goers on that fateful day, Rami Davidian organized his sons-in-law into an ad hoc first responder unit to receive the terrified carloads of people, inform their parents that they were safe, and drive them out of the area.
When there was nobody left to save, he used the cover of smoke from gunfire to access the site of the party. There, or in the environs, the Hamas gunmen had shot dead 360 mostly young people, often in barbaric circumstances involving mutilation and rape.
Quietly, he gathered and tried to match body parts, covered corpses that lay in indecent positions, moved bodies away from the passage of Israeli tanks, and recited the traditional Shema prayer over each one.
In recognition of his bravery, Davidian was chosen to light a torch at the national Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl on Monday evening.
Davidian's harrowing and intensely moving testimony joins those of other ordinary citizens who displayed superhuman capabilities on October 7, in a book written by Nachum Avniel (in Hebrew; it is being translated into English) due to hit Israeli shelves next week. (It can already be ordered online).
"We're On Our Way: The Civilians Who Saved Lives On October 7" contains detailed accounts of the actions taken by individuals, one family, and one security team — in the community of Shlomit close to the Israeli border with the Egyptian Sinai. One chapter each is devoted to the heroes of the southern cities of Ofakim and Sderot.
 The heroes include a police officer with a desk job who volunteered to help guard the Nova party for extra pay (Yigal Zinger), a party- and car-loving restaurateur (Ben Shimoni), a veteran radio reporter (Rami Shani), a retired general who has become a TV commentator on the war in Gaza (Israel Ziv), a high-ranking figure in the internal security services (Yossi Taher), and the Slotki brothers, Noam and Yishay.
The book reads like a thriller as each character — or those who describe the actions of heroes who lost their lives that day — takes the reader on a rollercoaster, minute-by-minute journey through their experiences amid the unfolding Hamas atrocities.
Chilling details are revealed — for example, the discovery that on the corpses of Hamas gunmen were addresses not only of the mayors of Ashdod and Ashkelon in southern Israel but also of known figures in central Israeli cities such as Rishon Lezion and Rehovot. Though they aimed to, the terrorists never reached the center of the country.
Kindergarten teacher Tali Hadad, 48, from Ofakim stands out as the book's only active female hero. She saves the life of her officer son, Itamar, by following him, still in her pajamas, as he runs off to fight the terrorists. She rescued him after he'd been shot and seriously injured and rushed him to the nearest ambulance depot, saving his life.
Once Itamar was in safe hands (he subsequently underwent surgery, had a long hospitalization, and is now recovering), Hadad returned several times to the heat of the battle to rescue and evacuate others who were hurt.
"I was mad, like a thug," she told Avniel of how people told her to go home and she refused.
 Avniel, 40, a journalist, poet, and creator of content for the digital unit of the Kan 11 broadcasting organization, spent a frenzied two months of unpaid leave in February and March of this year interviewing his subjects.
He told The Times of Israel that the presence of such evil had drawn him to good people and motivated him to record their stories.
A father of three, Avniel recalled once being told by a child development expert that children should be helped to feel loved, needed, and capable.
"These individuals [in the book] rose and acted and showed others that they were loved and needed," he said. "As a people, this is what we should tell one another."
 Avniel said he tried to bring together people from varied backgrounds. Two Arab candidates whom he had wanted to interview declined to be involved. Tali Hadad was the only active female hero, he agreed. But Sarit Ohayon, whose husband Moshe and son Eliad were killed defending Ofakim, was also a hero, he said.
It had been important to him to devote a chapter each to the heroes of Ofakim and Sderot, he went on, because of stereotypical views that these former development towns were still poor and weak.
"On that day, these people were there with strength and ability and strong communities, and that needs to be emphasized," he said.
He went on, "With all the anger, frustration, and disappointment in the state, we should feel humble and draw inspiration from the people in this country. October 7 erased many of the things I believed before. The question now is how we build a better, stronger society."
 He continued, "Some interviewees asked if this would be a left-wing or right-wing book, but the old politics and definitions aren't relevant. Nobody from Nova asked Rami Shani [an Army Radio journalist who saved multiple partygoers] what his political views were, or Rami Davidian who he'd voted for."
"This book is about us, hope, inspiration, and where we want to go," he said.
Several years ago, Avniel collaborated with Israeli author Avihai Berg on "The Only Way," (in Hebrew) which told the stories of how heroes of Israel's 1948 War of Independence began to build the state. It was with that book in mind that the publisher, Sella Meir, approached him to write about the heroes of October 7.
"Avihai Berg wanted to bring back the spirit of 1948 — the pioneering, the dedication, the commitment to society rather than just the individual. I connected to that a lot," Avniel said. "People were talking about whether we still needed Zionism now that we had a state. Today, we have the answer. There's still a lot to do before the Jewish People can feel safe in their land."
The book's title has a double meaning, referring to the events of October 7 and the ongoing journey to build the country, Avniel added.
In the coming days, a website — which will also be translated into English — will go live with the stories and video clips of the filmed interviews. timesofisrael.com | |  | WATCH: Honoring the Brave Women Who Protect Israel More than 500 female soldiers have been killed in combat operations in Israel over the past 50 years. Today, we honor their memory. On Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, we honor all the brave soldiers who fell serving and protecting the country.
Just like their male counterparts, many women take on combat roles. They are absolutely dedicated to protecting the State of Israel.
More than 500 female soldiers have been killed in combat operations in Israel over the past 50 years. Today, we honor their memory. unitedwithisrael.org | |  | WATCH: Our hope prevails – IDF's Independence Day message Today marks the 76th anniversary of the modern State of Israel, as Israelis rejoice but remain mindful of the war raging on against in the Gaza Strip and on the Lebanese border. worldisraelnews.com | | Mother of Slain Hostage Is Spreading Love Amidst Grief After her son's heroic escape and death by Israeli forces, Iris Haim's message of love is giving Israel hope. Dr. Yvette Alt Miller  Today, one of Israel's greatest heroes is a middle-aged mother whose son was held hostage in Gaza and accidentally killed by Israeli forces after escaping with two other hostages. Since the death of Yotam, her son, Iris Haim has been spreading a message of love and support that's buoyed the entire nation.
Yotam was one of over 240 Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. After 65 days in captivity, he managed to escape, along with two other Israelis, Alon Shamriz and Samer Talaka. Five days later they were mistakenly thought to be terrorists by Israeli troops who shot them. Instead of blaming the soldiers or seeking revenge for her son's death, Iris is dedicating herself to fostering a sense of love and unity inside Israel and around the world.
In a recent Aish.com interview, Iris explained how she is able to live without bitterness and shared a message for all of us today.
A Home Filled with Music and Love
 The Haim family lived on Moshav Sde Nitzan, a farming community in the Negev. Iris and her husband Raviv created a home filled with music and love for their two sons, Yotam and Tuval, and their daughter Noya. Both sons even became professional drummers. Yotam played drums in a band called Persephore; Tuval is the drummer for Israeli Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai.
"Yotam was a very funny person," explains Iris, recalling his dry, dark humor. "He was very athletic. He played basketball, did crossfit." Intensely clever, he lived in his own apartment on Kfar Aza and pursued music in his spare time. Yotam's father Raviv is a manager in a local agricultural company which grows wheat, potatoes, peanuts, carrots, and other crops. For the past few years Yotam worked alongside his dad, driving tractors and helping tend the fields.
Yotam's life was both idyllic and also "very complicated," Iris explains. He was born with spondylitis, a type of progressive arthritis which causes joint pain, and digestive problems. In addition to suffering physically, Yotam endured emotional struggles, battling depression and anxiety. "He was a very sensitive soul," Iris recalls. "He thought the world was a very bad place and had to frequently make the conscious choice to live."
Captured by Hamas
On October 7, 2023, the early morning peace of Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah was shattered when Hamas began lobbying thousands of rockets into Israel. 3,000 Hamas fighters invaded Israel on foot, in vehicles, and in paragliders, attacking dozens of towns and military bases near the Gaza border. Hamas terrorists massacred, tortured, raped, and murdered over 1,200 people. Over 350 of the dead were killed at the site of a large music festival that was dedicated, ironically, to peace.
 Approximately 254 Israelis, including young children and the elderly, were kidnapped and forced into Gaza. Yotam was taken from his safe room in Kfar Aza and held in a dark, damp tunnel with three other hostages: Wichian Temthong, 38, a temporary worker from Thailand who'd arrived in Israel just weeks earlier; Alon Shamriz, 26, a computer science student who also lived on Kibbutz Aza; and Samar Fouad Talaka, 24, an Israeli Arab who was working a weekend shift at kibbutz Nir Am's farms nearby.
Wichian was the only member of that group to survive, released 51 days later in a prisoner exchange along with all the other Thai workers Hamas abducted. His description of his time with Yotam in captivity gave Iris hope. "Wichian told us that Yotam was very strong. He was laughing a lot and was also crying in captivity. He drummed on the floor and sang to help keep his fellow prisoners' spirits up. He was helping others who were with him."
Yotam, Alon, Samar, and Wichian were fed just once a day, often just a piece of bread and a single dried date. "We were always hungry," Wichian described. "We could only sip our water. A large bottle had to last four to five days, a smaller bottle for two days." While their Hamas captors treated Wichian fairly well, they used to beat Yotam and the other Israelis with electric cables. At night, their captors forbade them from sleeping. Despite these horrific conditions, Wichian recalls Yotam and the other Israelis "would shake hands and do fist bumps. They would cheer me up by hugging me and clapping my shoulder."
Iris is convinced that during those long weeks of captivity, Yotam's strength and resilience helped him and his friends survive. She was determined to stay positive and hope for the best. She disconnected herself from Israeli media, which she felt focused on the negative and disunity, downplaying the nation's sense of strong unity and confidence.
Fateful Moment
In mid-December, Gaza City's Shejaiya neighborhood where Yotam was being held saw vicious fighting between Hamas forces and the IDF. On October 10, Israeli soldiers sent a dog equipped with a GoPro camera into the building where Yotam and the other captives were. Hamas fighters killed the dog and began a gun battle. The Hamas fighters were killed, and Yotam, Alon and Samir managed to escape.
 They eluded capture for five days, hiding in an abandoned building in Gaza City. Using food scraps, they wrote "help three hostages" in Hebrew on a cloth and "SOS" on another scrap and hung them from the building. An Israeli drone picked up the signs but in a tragic error, soldiers considered the marked building a trap laid by Hams to lure them in. On December 13, Hamas fighters ambushed a group of Israeli soldiers in Shejaiya and killed nine; after that, the IDF became even more cautious about being fooled by Hamas fighters and booby trapped buildings.
On December 15, Yotam, Alon and Samar emerged from their building, waved a white cloth, and approached Israeli troops. An Israeli sniper, thinking they were Hamas suicide bombers, shot them. Alon and Samir died and Yotam was wounded; Yotam managed to flee inside a building and yelled for help in Hebrew. The Israeli battalion commander ordered his troops not to shoot. Yet when Yotam eventually emerged from the building one of the Israeli soldiers shot him; he later said he hadn't understood his commander's order to hold fire.
When the IDF informed Iris and her family of this terrible mistake, they told her that Yotam was a hero who escaped from Hamas' captivity. She recalls, "I was in shock. I couldn't believe he was killed. Why did it happen to us? All my beliefs, my faith was crushed. I felt like a very black hole opened up and I wanted to jump into it."
A Brave Hero
Iris couldn't imagine going to her son's funeral shrouded in such darkness, especially after working so hard to focus on the positivity. She and her husband had a psycho-drama therapy session that yielded an life-affirming epiphany. Iris described how they channeled Yotam's voice into the room where he "described" the events leading up to his death. They realized that Yotam made a series of brave choices and risked his life to attain freedom and to die on his own terms. He was not a victim; he died a free man, as a hero
Embracing their son's incredible resourcefulness and bravery while he eluded Hamas capture in Gaza City enabled them to face his funeral and rejuvenated her hope and positivity.
"We learned that Yotam was free for five days. He felt freedom. For me to know that he did it was amazing. I understood how strong he was. I was very proud of him."
Iris thinks of Yotam as a partisan fighter. It's not always possible to stay alive in a war, she notes, "but the most important thing is to die as a free person," fighting for a cause. "He chose to go out of this life as a hero in a very special way. It's made a difference; it's helped me to be strong."
Restoring the Morale of the Nation
During the Haim family's shiva for Yotam, the wife of the soldier who issued the order "don't shoot" came to pay her respect. She told Iris that the soldiers who'd shot Yotam and the other hostages were devastated and could no longer function. The nation as a whole was in collective shock by the army's tragic error and a feeling of hopelessness was infecting the entire country. Many Israelis were feeling a sense of fatigue, and the widespread global antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment only added to Israelis' sense of hopelessness.
"When she told me that the army cannot fight and the army is depressed and broken and couldn't continue, I was very worried," Iris explains. "I thought about these soldiers because the army must fight and continue to defend us. The army must do their work."
With Israel riven by internal differences, Iris wanted to remind her fellow Israelis that Hamas and other terror groups - not each other - are their true enemies, and to send a message of love and hope to the soldiers that would encourage them to continue fighting and defend the nation.
Iris's letter to one Army brigade spoke to the entire nation of Israel:
I am Yotam's mother. I wanted to say that I love you very much and I hug you from afar, and I know that everything that happened is not your fault at all, but the fault of Hamas, may their names and their memory be forever below the ground. I ask that you take care of yourselves and think all the time that you are doing the best thing in the world that can help us as the people of Israel. We all need you safe and sound, and don't hesitate for a moment. If you see a terrorist, don't think you killed a hostage on purpose: you need to protect yourself because that's the only way you can protect us. At the first opportunity, you are welcome to come to us. We want to see you in person, and we want to hug you. It's hard to say this, but what you did was probably the best thing at that moment. No one is judging you or angry: not me, not my husband, not my daughter, not my late son, not Yotam's brother. We love you.
 The soldiers sent her back a voice note, "We received your message, and since then we have been able to function again. Before that, we had shut down." The next day, the soldier from the battalion that had made the mistake visited Iris. She continued to repeat the same message: "Do not blame yourself. We love you and need you."
During shiva she also received a visit from an army officer who many years ago made a mistake that tragically led to the death of a number of soldiers. He told her that this had destroyed his life, turning him into a depressed recluse who would only leave his apartment to go the pharmacy to get his medication. After hearing Iris's loving message to the soldiers who inadvertently killed her son, he was motivated to embrace life. His first outing was to pay the Haim family a shiva call.
Israeli Memorial Day and Israeli Independence Day
In recognition of the impact she had on the nation, Iris is one of a dozen Israelis who will receive the honor to light a ceremonial torch on Israel's Independence Day. Iris says, "This year especially, Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) remind us that we have a place, we have a country, we have a home. It's difficult because we have wars: we are surrounded by people who want to kill us. We continue to fight and are resilient - we are very strong, we are a resilient nation."
 This year, many Israeli families are mourning the losses of relatives and friends. "Every day is hard for us," Iris notes. The challenge isn't to remember the dead and wounded, but to keep up hope and remember that what unites us as Israelis and as Jews is always stronger than what divides us.
In the months since Yotam's death, Iris has spoken to people and groups across Israel and around the world. She feels Yotam's presence all the time. "Everybody knows about Yotam now," she says. He always wanted to be a famous drummer; now Yotam is known for something even more important, as a symbol of forgiveness and Jewish unity.
Iris is creating a foundation called Yotam's Life to help shooters and survivors of people involved in friendly fire mishaps. Yotam's brother Tuval is raising money to record an album of songs that both he and his brother composed and is also opening a musical school for people in stress and soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress in Yotam's memory.
Iris wants the world to know that the terror surrounding Israel is threatening the whole free world. "Israel is an amazing place that is flourishing with the best minds in the world. We want to live here peacefully, quietly, to raise our children in happiness. This is our homeland; we do not have any other place to live."
With antisemitism growing globally, Jewish unity is critical. "Yotam's death also tore down any barriers I had with religious Jews. I have come to understand that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. Hamas doesn't care about who is religious and who is not. They are attacking Jews, period. We are one nation and need to learn to love one another." aish.com | |  | WATCH: Kibbutz ravaged on Oct 7 commemorates its fallen defenders Residents gathered to remember the heroes who fell defending Kibbutz Be'eri from Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7th. worldisraelnews.com | | Father of three | Elad Fingerhut murdered in Hezbollah anti-tank missile strike The 38-year-old father of three came to assist IDF soldiers who were hit by anti-tank missiles when another missile was shot at him.  Elad Fingerhut, aged 38, from Kibbutz Metzuba in western Galilee, was murdered on Tuesday as a result of an anti-tank missile launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah.
After hearing that an anti-tank missile struck the area he went to assist the soldiers. Minutes later, Hezbollah fired another missile which killed Fingerhut.
Elad left behind three children: Yuval (14), Raz (12.5), and Kfir (11).
Efrat Mayor Dovi Shefler eulogized: "Our hearts are with the Fingerhuts, an old and rooted family in Efrat. Elad's running into the fire to help IDF soldiers who were hit shows the education and values his parents gave him. The entire council will accompany his family and assist as needed."
Throughout the day on Tuesday, several anti-tank missile launches were identified from Lebanon toward the area of Adamit in the western Galilee. As a result, an IDF soldier was moderately injured and four additional soldiers were lightly injured.
The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment and their families have been notified.
In addition, a surveillance balloon that was floating above Adamit was hit by one of the launches and landed in Lebanese territory. Hezbollah took responsibility for the launches and emphasized that they attacked three targets connected to the surveillance balloon.
israelnationalnews.com | | Defense Ministry contractor dies after southern Gaza mortar attack Liron Yitzhak, 30, was fatally wounded in Rafah area on Monday; 8 troops and another civilian ministry worker also hurt in incident Emanuel Fabian Liron Yitzhak, 30, a Defense Ministry contractor who was wounded in a mortar attack in the southern Gaza Strip earlier this week, died on Wednesday, the ministry and hospital officials said.
Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva says Yitzhak was brought to the medical center with a critical head injury following the mortar attack on Monday.
After two days, medical officials declared his death, the hospital said.
In addition to Yitzhak, the mortar attack in the Rafah area left eight soldiers wounded, including two seriously, and another Defense Ministry contractor lightly hurt.
Yitzhak, from Petah Tikva, was survived by his fiancée, to whom he was supposed to get married in two weeks, his parents, and two siblings.
The Defense Ministry said, "Yitzhak was carrying out work on behalf of a company contracted by the Defense Ministry, as part of assistance to IDF troops operating in Gaza."
 Also Wednesday, an officer of the Paratroopers Brigade's 202nd Battalion was seriously wounded during a battle with terror operatives in the northern Gaza Strip, the military announced.
Another two soldiers were moderately hurt in the same incident.
To date, 273 soldiers have been killed during the ongoing ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and amid operations along the border.
Another 1,712 soldiers have been wounded in the ground operation — 338 seriously wounded, 566 moderately and 808 lightly, according to Israel Defense Forces data.
The ground operation followed three weeks of aerial bombardments in the wake of the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, when more than 3,000 Palestinian terrorists stormed the border into southern Israel and killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and kidnapped 252, amid many acts of brutality and sexual assault.
Israel declared war on Hamas in response, launching an offensive aimed at toppling the Gaza-ruling terror group and securing the release of the hostages.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 35,000 people in the Strip have been killed in the fighting so far, a toll that cannot be independently verified. The United Nations says some 24,000 fatalities have been identified at hospitals at this time. The rest of the total figure is based on murkier Hamas "media reports." It also includes some 15,000 terror operatives Israel says it has killed in battle. Israel also says it killed some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7. timesofisrael.com | | US built floating pier off Gaza could be operational in 'days' The pier was completed last week, and USAID Response Director says that in the coming day, they expect it to be affixed to the shore, and aid can then flow. Seth J. Frantzman  The US-built pier that is supposed to help facilitate a maritime corridor of aid arriving from Cyprus to Gaza could be operational in days, according to a briefing that was held on the Gaza humanitarian pier on May 15.
The briefing took place with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Response Director Dan Dieckhaus, who is also the response director for the agency's Levant humanitarian response, and US Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, who is the deputy commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
The two officials provided a briefing on current issues facing the Gaza pier project and the humanitarian corridor that will be enabled by it. According to the comments in the briefing, Dieckhaus said that the current humanitarian situation in Gaza is "dire" and that it could be getting worse.
He said conditions are deteriorating, particularly in Rafah. He also said that the entire population of the Strip is facing acute food and security issues and they require food assistance, with famine looming. He said more than half of the population in northern Gaza is facing food insecurity, and in the south of Gaza, around a quarter of them are facing this issue. He also spoke about the health needs of children.
Dieckhaus said the "dire" situation was further complicated by the current situation in Rafah. He said that 450,000 people had fled since May 6. He didn't mention what had happened that day, but the context is that Hamas launched rockets at the Israeli area of Kerem Shalom killing four soldiers. The IDF then launched an offensive into eastern Rafah, with the military calling on people to leave the area on May 6.
The IDF then launched offensive into eastern Rafah
Throughout the comments, The response director did not mention Hamas, which controls most of Gaza after seven months of war, a war that Hamas started by attacking Israel on October 7, 2023.
 Dieckhaus did say the US was concerned about the "closure" of critical border crossings. He said there were also concerns about further displacement of civilians and that USAID had continued to seek to increase aid deliveries. The maritime corridor is supposed to augment aid delivery and is not designed to replace the need for other aid deliveries currently happening by land, he noted.
He called the delivery of the aid via the sea an effort that would take place in an "independent, neutral and impartial manner," stressing that humanitarian organizations would determine who gets assistance in Gaza and who was prioritized. Dieckhaus said this mission requires coordination with many partners. He also spoke about how critical it was for humanitarian workers to be able to deliver aid, despite the great personal risk they face in Gaza.
The US official said that the maritime corridor is expected to be operational in the coming days.
Flood the zone
VICE-ADM. COOPER described the military's role in this effort. He noted that back in March, the US had decided to send ships to the region to build the floating pier under a unique US capability called Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS). He stressed that providing this capability was the US military's "only role."
He also described how this was only one of several ways that America is helping to "flood the zone" with aid. He described 38 airdrops that have taken place and the delivery of 3 million meals via air. The US ships that left Fort Eustis in March sailed around 11,000 km. he said.
The pier was completed last week and Cooper says that in the coming days they expect it to be affixed to the shore and then aid can flow. He called the pier temporary in nature, saying that "there will be no US military boots on the ground." He also noted the complexity of the operation, involving many partners. The UK provided a ship, for instance.
The way the maritime corridor will work is as follows. In Cyprus, the aid is screened, prepared, put on pallets and then on ships. The ships sail several days from Cyprus and arrive at the platform which is off the coast of Gaza. The cargo is loaded to the platform and then onto trucks. The trucks then go onto smaller ships that shuttle the aid from the floating platform to a floating pier that is affixed to the shore. The aid then disembarks via the trucks and can go into Gaza. The trucks repeat this process and groups like the World Food Programme are involved on the land side.
Cooper said the US takes the security of the personnel very seriously. He calls this a "100% humanitarian mission." There are coordination centers that have been established in Israel and Cyprus to work on this project. He described Israel as being highly supportive.
During the briefing, several questions were asked, such as about concerns that the trucks could be looted once they reach Gaza. In the past, images have shown Hamas gunmen getting onto trucks once they reach areas of Hamas control. The officials did not mention Hamas in the briefing, leaving it a kind of elephant in the room.
Nevertheless, Dieckhaus said that once the aid reaches land, the humanitarians will conduct community relations and make sure the aid gets where it needs to go. There are also surveys conducted to make sure it reaches the right people. The US officials do not think the JLOTS pier is exposed to additional risk beyond what already takes place in Gaza.
Dieckhaus said that the current delivery of aid into Gaza is insufficient and that he wants to see more openings of existing crossings and potentially more crossings as well. "We cannot afford for any crossings to go off line or [experience] a decrease. We are pressing for the reopening of any closed crossings including Rafah; we understand that discussions are ongoing with regional governments," he said.
This apparently referred to the fact Egypt closed the Rafah crossing after the IDF offensive into Rafah on May 7 when the IDF seized the crossing. He did not mention this though in the comments. He did discuss the issue of facilitating aid moving into and around Gaza, mentioning "checkpoints" and mission approvals for the aid moving around.
The two men were also asked whether the Palestinian Authority was supportive. Cooper said that the issue has been discussed with the PA and that "there is support and questions about how it will ensure assistance; there is support for anything that increases assistance."
The officials called on all parties not to interfere with the new corridor. Cooper noted there were around 1,000 US service personnel involved in the mission. Meanwhile Dieckhaus responded to a question about humanitarians being harmed in Gaza, such as the killing of the World Central Kitchen workers in early April. "Deconfliction failures need to end," he said, describing talks with the Israeli government about coordination procedures, saying that "we are not satisfied at where they are now."
The comments about the arrival of the pier are important, illustrating that the project is about to become operational after two months. It also shows the US was able to use this capability in a crisis. It now remains to be seen how it will actually work. jpost.com | | | Here is a direct link to join the group - | | 
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