A beautiful home in the affluent suburbs of Montgomery County, Maryland was the setting of a powerful evening this past Thursday, as this year’s recipient of Israel’s highest civic honor shared his dramatic story of unimaginable bravery from Oct 7th.
Over one hundred attendees at the charity event organized by Rabbi Sender and Nechamie Geisinsky of Chabad of Bethesda, experienced the full range of emotions as Menachem Kalmenson, winner of the Israel Prize – recounted how he and his brother Elchanan obm, each a father of five, rushed from the safety of their homes in Otniel to the very jaws of death that was Kibbutz Be’eri on that horrific day.
The awe-inspiring courage it took for two citizens to willingly risked their lives in order to enter a Kibbutz overrun by terrorists over twenty times in a span of sixteen hours, and rescue one hundred men, women, elderly, and babies from right under the noses of the marauding murderers. The heartbreaking tragedy of the moment in the mid-morning hours of October 8th as they were on their final run, when they were ambushed by a terrorist and Elchanan lost his life. And the incredible inspiration of hearing the uplifting tenor of Menachem’s resolve in the face of this nightmare and loss, and the declaration of his commitment to carry own with a sense of joy and purpose as a Jew living in the Holyland.
The guests also heard from prominent members of the Chabad Bethesda community, including greetings from the hosts of the evening, Louis and Martine Dubin, well-known philanthropists of the Jewish community in the Greater DC area. As well as by renowned Jewish activists – Richard Heideman, former head of Bnei Brith and international legal warrior on behalf of victims of terror against governments that support these heinous crimes, and his wife Phyllis, current President of the International March of The Living. In attendance was Mr. Tal Keinan, famous American-Israeli entrepreneur who played a leading role in turning Israel into the Start-Up Nation. The evening was concluded with Rabbi Geisinsky encouraging everyone to heed the message of The Lubavitcher Rebbe that when participating in an inspiring moment, to not allow the moment to pass without anchoring it to a specific resolution of positive action. He reminded all those present that heroes are not appointed, rather they rise to the occasion and answer Hashem’s call in whatever way they are able. He then invited a dear friend and colleague Rabbi Nossen Rodin of Chabad of Karmiel and Broude College in Israel to share the important work they are doing with the students and encouraged the attendees to support the effort.
The evening was a tremendous success. Thousands of dollars were raised for important causes in Israel, and all present were left with a lot to think about as well as a strong resolve to grow in their Judaism and their continued support of their brothers and sisters in the Holyland.
Photo Credits: Nechama Geisinsky, Marshall Foster, Chaiky Backman
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