On Thursday night, March 14, the community gathered at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills for an inspiring, powerful program hosted by Queens Jewish Link, Bukharian Jewish Link, Chazaq, Queens Jewish Community Center, Queens Jewish Alliance, and the Department of Zionist Activities in the Diaspora.
Rabbi Stuart Verstandig, President of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, greeted everyone.
Mr. Yaakov Serle, co-Publisher of the Queens Jewish Link and the Bukharian Jewish Link, introduced the speakers. He shared how he and his wife Atara were in Israel when the war broke out and a missile landed a block from where they were staying. He thanked the speakers for coming to share their stories. The World Zionist Organization was founded by Theodor Herzl and continues to strengthen the bonds of Jews with Judaism, Zionism, and Israel. He thanked the NYPD for providing security.
Rabbi Daniel Rosenfelt, Rav of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, led T’hilim and a prayer for the Israeli soldiers.
Israeli songwriter Avihal Peretz shared his experience of October 7. He lives in Judea and Samaria. He woke up on October 7 to an Arab yelling. Twelve hours later, he gave a hug to his wife and kids and headed to the Northern border. He shared how he felt something bad would happen before October 7, because there were two sides in Israel. On Yom Kippur, there was a bad environment in Tel Aviv. He shared that he davens vasikin and he woke his children to daven. When they finished hakafos, they were heading to another minyan for Kiddush when someone told him there was a war in the South. He thought at first that it wasn’t true. In Judea and Samaria, you didn’t hear rockets. Then he saw a message from his commander to come to his base. One thousand soldiers came. He shared that he left his family and drove on the main road. He saw people in uniform driving. He shared that he was in the North serving for one month. After a month, he was asked to go back to Samaria. He noted that, after October 7, we realized there was a threat of hundreds of terrorists coming in. On the way home, he realized that he was alive, and he pulled over to the side of the road and wrote a song, “I Am Still Alive.”
He sang the song for the audience and accompanied himself on the guitar. The beginning verse, translated from Hebrew, is: “I’m still alive. I will not despair. We will see better days. I’ve paid the price in blood and flame. Strong belief despite the pain. I’m still alive hope in my eyes.”
It was moving to hear him sing this beautiful song.
Elie Rappoport, former Lone Soldier, was living in Baltimore and he dropped everything and headed to Israel to fight in the war. He said, “If not me, then who. If not now, then when?” He was on a trip to Morocco on October 4. On October 7, he got the call about the war. He realized it wasn’t safe to stay in Morocco. He flew to the Canary Islands. He saw everyone enjoying themselves and he felt empty. “I knew I needed to get back to Israel for whatever service I could do.” He flew to Italy and then Greece and then took a rescue plane to Israel. He shared how soldiers returned to Israel from all over the world. In addition, so many volunteers came and there were so many things donated for the soldiers. He hadn’t worn his uniform in six years. He was sent to Gaza to lead a group of soldiers he didn’t know. It was the most dangerous time. He trained with them for three weeks. “People gave me whatever I needed. There was so much support and so many donations from the Diaspora.” He shared that the first night that they went into Gaza, he was part of a rescue unit bringing water and food to the soldiers. He spent three days doing guard duty. The soldiers he was leading all came from different backgrounds. “We were all there to protect Israel and the soldiers there.” They became a community that he could trust his life with.
He shared a take-away he learned from the experience. “This war changed my view on being Jewish. I realized that if we don’t bind together, we will fall apart.” Also, he shared, “We all have a part to play in this.” He pointed out that the WZO offers a place for soldiers coming back from Israel and it’s helpful to be part of that.
Major Nerya Meir, Head of WZO Diaspora Department, shared that his father served in the IDF during the Yom Kippur War and his grandfather was in Auschwitz. He shared that he had the privilege to donate his kidney to his brother nine years ago. He spoke about the support from American Jews, which was the biggest outpouring since the founding of the State of Israel. He also said, “We will win.”
American Jews will be in the front lines to fight anti-Semitism. He noted that it was disheartening to see the need for police protection for tonight’s program. This worries us, he said.
He said that it’s important in the upcoming years to build back Zionism in the Diaspora for the next generation.
The program ended with a Q&A session. The community appreciates this important program and is grateful to the hosts and the speakers for sharing their experience with us.
By Susie Garber
