Day 760 in Gaza - Bring Home the Bodies of the Hostages

I am still celebrating the release of our hostages this past Simchat Torah. The release of the living hostages from Gaza was an inspiring victory, so let us continue to be optimistic, bright, and positive. It is not easythe past two years have been extremely difficult. The Jewish people have learned to simultaneously mourn in sadness and celebrate in joy. It is said that this is why we have two eyes: one that sheds tears of sorrow and the other tears of joy.

There are still seven more bodies to retrieve from Gaza. Thank you, Reb Aharon Fridman, for keeping us updated in the Members’ Farbrengen Forum about the names still not returned, still not permitted to rest in peace, still awaiting the chance to recite Kaddish.

BRING THEM HOME.

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Last Sunday at synagogue, we had a Yom Tov atmosphere. It was just a regular first Sunday of the month, no celebration, no festival, no Rosh Chodesh, no special event. The quorum had gathered, the requisite ten men allowing us to continue with the weekday service. We had all put on our tefillin.

One of our Bar Mitzvah father-and-son pairs walked into shul to join the service as part of our Bar Mitzvah programme. I always give our Bar Mitzvah boys a lesson on the art of laying tefillin- the background, the history, and the traditions. I asked the father when he had last put on tefillin. He replied, “I actually have never put on tefillin.” I was incredulous. A traditional family, and he had never put on tefillin! “What about at your own Bar Mitzvah?” I asked. “I was never given the opportunity,” he said.

My eyes lit up. Standing before me was a karkafta delo manach tefillin literally, “a skull that has never laid tefillin.” The Zohar views such a person with deep compassion, for when the soul returns to the Heavenly Tribunal it must undergo a stringent process to enter. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, my teacher and Rebbe insisted on spreading the observance of tefillin, especially after the Six Day War, launching the famous Tefillin Campaign. The Rebbe said tefillin are our crown jewels our majesty protecting us from fear and shielding us from danger.

Secretly, I think the Rebbe set out to find every Jew who had never worn tefillin to complete and elevate their soul. The Rebbe would rejoice whenever a karkafta was found, another Jew reconnected.

So I was deeply moved when David agreed to put on tefillin for the first time in his life. It was like an adult Bar Mitzvah celebration. David had put on tefillin- he could now enter the heavens with confidence and dignity. In a way, David was coming home.

We celebrated with a L’chaim. We poured a whiskey, we charged our glasses, and we wished David a huge Mazal Tov. And now we look forward with joy and anticipation to the Bar Mitzvah of his son, Josh.

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I extend wishes of long life to our dear friend Annie Jordan on the passing of her sister, Marion Burnie of Perth. It is extremely difficult to lose a sibling. In the analogy of the family tree, siblings are the branches that stretch outward. When a sibling passes, one of the branches is gone. May her soul be bound in the bond of eternal life.

I also extend wishes of long life to Stephanie Brem. This past Sunday, we consecrated the gravesite of her late husband, David Brem. David was one of us. He was one of our minyan men, always among the first ten to make the quorum. He won the “Elijah the Prophet Award” multiple times — given to the tenth person who completes the minyan. David was our resident Levi. When he was alive, we were never without a Levi.

When a spouse is lost, it is like the trunk of the tree weakens. Husband and wife are the strong trunk; roots are the ancestors; the leaves are our shade and shelter. When a spouse is lost, the tree is shaken. We wish Stephanie health, strength, and uplifting memories from the more than 41 years she shared with David. By the way, David and Stephanie were married here at Coogee Synagogue. We are, in a way, all their children.

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According to the Zohar, tefillin are linked to the Luz bone, located at the back of the neck. It is said to be the one bone that never decomposes, containing the eternal DNA of body and soul. This is yet another reason according to Kabbalah why laying tefillin is so vital. Even if only once, do not remain a karkafta. Once may be the beginning of again.

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Day 760

There are rumblings of fighting in Lebanon to curb the rearming of Hezbollah. My nephew Mendel has been in Lebanon. The remains of three hostages have been returned this week. Seven more bodies still remain in Gaza. Thank you, Arthur Fridman, for keeping us updated on the names still not home.

Haredi students are protesting against IDF conscription. It is wrong. Our rabbis must show leadership. A deal can be made. This can be resolved.

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Israel is still at war.

The price of victory is high.

It hurts. A lot.

As always, L’chaim.

See you in shule.

Shabbat Shalom.

BRING THEM ALL HOME.