On Tuesday evening, December 26, community members flocked to The Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to hear a presentation from Chaviv Friedman, a soldier who is currently fighting in the IDF.
Mr. David Reich, Vice President of the shul, greeted everyone. He thanked Mr. Stuart Smolar and Mr. Stuart Verstandig, President of the shul, who helped to organize this event. He welcomed Assemblyman Sam Berger.
The program began with T’hilim and a prayer for the IDF soldiers and for the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Mr. Allan Friedman, father of Chaviv, shared that he and his late wife made aliyah in 1980. Before that, they resided in Kew Gardens Hills and davened at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, where he was the gabbai. He currently resides part of the year with his new wife in Israel.
Chaviv Friedman spoke next. He shared that he lives in a yishuv called Mevo Horon, which is located near Modi’in. He served in the IDF in 2005 as well as in 2008 in the religious army unit. After that, he was called up for reserve duty periodically; but since October 7, he has been living at a base in Sharon near Jenin. His unit is Netzach Yisrael 941 Pluga D.
He retold the series of events as he experienced them on and after October 7. On October 7, at 6:30 a.m., he was sleeping, but his wife woke him when she heard lots of loud booms. He thought it was the neighbors, slamming doors. Later that day, in shul at 8:00 a.m., a friend informed him that rockets were flying from Gaza. The booms they had heard were the Iron Dome intercepting the rockets all over Israel.
He shared that he is a medic, and while they were dancing at 9:30 a.m. in shul, a friend told him to put on his phone. At 10:12 a.m., a message came from his commander, and he was called to the base. He had to leave his wife and four children and go get uniforms and guns and start driving on Shabbos. He explained that 360,000 soldiers left their families and were called up.
He shared that a close friend, named Yonasan, who lived in a yishuv in the South, had to leave his wife and five kids. A few of his friends were killed, and he had to help with the bodies. This friend’s family is currently moving from hotel to hotel, and it’s not a stable situation for the kids to have to keep changing schools.
Next, Chaviv shared what the IDF did in Jenin. They went from house to house and business to business in a 24/7 mission, searching for weapons and explosives. He noted that they found something in almost every house. In the mosque, they found fake car licenses for the Arabs to use to drive terrorists into Israel with explosives. They also found many weapons there. His officer and another soldier were injured from an explosive device that caused falling debris, including a very large and heavy brick. Baruch Hashem, they all recovered.
There are three Jewish yishuvim near Jenin, and the main mission for his unit was to protect them.
He then shared how much it means to the Israeli soldiers to get all the support from all over the world. The davening and financial support, etc. means so much to them.
He then detailed the specific needs of the soldiers and provided a website for donations. The list included the following items:
Tactical helmets, magazine pouches, heavy equipment toolboxes, night vision goggles, tactical uniforms, rifle sights, safety glasses, army boots, and commando knives.
To donate, you can go to the website, Unit941.com.
At the end, he shared a message from his wife. It is very hard for both his wife and him to have to be so far apart for such a long time. He goes home once a week, usually for Shabbos.
It’s so inspiring to see the m’siras nefesh of our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael. In that z’chus, Hashem should please bring an end to this war and bring real lasting peace with the g’ulah sh’leimah.
By Susie Garber
