Brigadier General (Res.) Avigdor Kahalani who heads the Aguda Lemaan Hachayal (the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers) put on Tefilin this week with Lubavitch emissaries and joined in a special prayer for the success of the IDF in its current war with Hamas in Gaza.
Kahalani is considered a IDF hero and received several medals of honor for his heroic performance in the 1967 and 1973 wars.
“There is no doubt in my mind that putting on Tefilin provides immeasurable inner strength and courage, I personally feel it and everyone else can feel it too. This spiritual connection to the traditions of our nation, praying to Almighty G-d and putting on Tefilin, strengthens our soldiers and provides them with the spiritual power and moral courage that is so vital in the current struggle. Putting on Tefilin fortifies the Jewish people and leads it to victory, as we are told by our Sages.”
Gen. Kahalani proclaimed that “I will do everything in my power to bring this message to all IDF soldiers just as Chabad brings this message to all Jews in the Diaspora.”
Kahalani then turned to the Chabad emissaries and said: “I want to thank you together with my friend Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, chief Chabad emissary to Tel Aviv, for the magnificent work you are doing in the city and the world over, you always strengthen the spirit of our nation especially during these challenging times.
“This is a war of our survival in Eretz Yisrael and everyone sees how it has been conducted from heaven,” said Kahalani. “Just as in Biblical Egypt G-d hardened Pharoah’s heart not to let our people go in order that he be smitten even more, today too, Hamas had numerous chances to accept a ceasefire but then we would never have uncovered all the tunnels they dug and they would have been able to reorganize and rearm themselves. But G-d hardened their hearts not to accept a ceasefire so we could smite them more until they will be decimated completely. We must continue to pray to G-d that he grant the IDF and the government the strength to finish the job to
