By COLlive reporter
On Simchas Torah, Israel was struck with an unprecedented terror attack that took the lives of hundreds of innocent people. Since then, the Chabad Center for French speakers in Raanana, led by Rabbi Mendel and Chaya Mimoun, has been working around the clock in support of the victims and the soldiers in the field.
As survivors from the massacred towns and Kibbutzim near Gaza arrived in Raanana, the Chabad House paid for over 90 families to stay at a local hotel for several nights and also gave them envelopes with cash to buy whatever they needed.
When terrorists poured over the border into Israel, several brave Israelis resolutely fought to defend their communities. Those who survived sustained severe injuries and are recovering in hospitals all over Israel.
The Rebbe famously delivered a special sicha to the disabled veterans of the Israeli army in 1976, referring to them not as disabled but as metzuyaney tzaha”l, the outstanding people of the army. Afterward, the Rebbe gave each veteran a dollar for tzedakah. Rabbi Mimoun thought to replicate this idea for the injured heroes recovering in a hospital in Raanana, presenting them each with a display of the Rebbe speaking to the veterans along with a dollar bill.
As reservists were called up for service, the Chabad House saw the opportunity to provide soldiers with physical and spiritual armor to keep them safe. Over 120 pairs of Tefilln were gifted to soldiers who committed to putting them on daily and an astounding 4000 pairs of Tzitzis were distributed. Thousands of mini Chitas prints were made for soldiers to carry with them at all times and 20,000 Shabbos candle kits were handed to female soldiers and women in the community to light.
To ensure the safety of the soldiers, the Chabad House procured hundreds of bulletproof vests for servicemen headed out to the front lines along with gloves, hats, and tactical gear.
To support the men on the front line, the Chabad House has arranged barbecues for hundreds of soldiers at their bases all across the area. The events are permeated with positivity and optimism, with a strong sense of bitachon and emunah in Hashem.
As a zechus for the 241 Israeli hostages in Hamas hand, the Mimouns brought together 241 women from the community to do the special mitzva of hafrashas Challah.
The Chabad House in Raanana continues to serve as a beacon of light and positivity as Israel fights to destroy Hamas while rockets continue to rain on Israeli cities.
With the teachings and guidance of the Rebbe at the forefront of their mind, the Mimouns are tenaciously guiding their community to strengthen their connection to to Yiddishkeit as the proper response to the darkness that surrounds them.
Follow their activities on Facebook and Instagram, or email them: Bethloubavitchraanana@gmail.
We love you 😘 keep the good work