By Mushi Fogelman
If anyone has ever doubted our eternal bond with the Almighty, I witnessed it. I saw, with my own eyes, the fire of Jewish souls ignited in a moment of truth. What an incredible people we are.
About four weeks ago, I was in Israel at the request of my brother Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, the American liaison for Chabad in Israel to meet with Rabbi Yosef Aharonov. Zalman Fellig and I were asked to visit with the families of the hostages. We didn’t know what to expect. We found people who were skeptical of any approach, particularly by those who appear religious. These beautiful people come from backgrounds with scant knowledge of anything remotely Jewish. A few approached us. We spoke; the pain and suffering were beyond anyone’s comprehension. We were unsure of the need for our presence until Rabbi Aharonov came to see how our visit went.
We told him what we saw and thought they would require a very slow introduction to anything Jewish. We had no idea how to report on their mental state.
He proposed something so outlandish; the reality of it seemed like crossing an ocean in a paddleboat. He said, “I’m going in to tell them they have only one address for help: The Lubavitcher Rebbe. And I’m going to take them to the Ohel. I asked you here to help me organize this trip.” We both said “sure,” since the possibility of this happening was zero — so outlandish, so outrageous, it was comical.
The families of the hostages meet twice a day, 300 of them in a theater-like room, and discuss things important to them but with no special purpose, things like slogans and signs.
Rabbi Aharonov received permission to address the group, something unheard of. He did exactly what he told us he would do. He stood before them with absolute conviction and heartfelt belief and said, and I quote: “We are in a difficult situation, we feel lost and hopeless, but there is an answer. We need a miracle, and there is only one address for a miracle like this. We need to go to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York and plead, even demand, that the Rebbe intercede on our behalf and bring our children home. I am willing to take every one of you. All you need to do is agree to come, and the Rebbe will help us.”
There was complete silence.
I’m sure most of the families had no idea what he was talking about. But he said it with such conviction and heartfelt belief nobody could oppose the idea. He proposed that he would leave some of the Shluchim there to explain it better. They agreed to allow them to remain.
It was four weeks ago.
One by one, they reluctantly agreed. The logistics for this trip were insurmountable and miraculous, but fierce determination and real Bitochon by those involved made it possible (but that’s for another time.)
The flight was quiet and painful. They came to the Ohel with real skepticism…
…then we went into the Rebbe and saw the impossible: a physical manifestation of a pure spiritual experience. Look for yourself.
Hashem! Hashem! Please, answer their prayers! And we already will thank and rejoice His chesed and eternal love for His children
to comment one yes i agree 100 present we want Moshaich now we will win