Simchas Torah Celebrated Last Week After Being Disrupted by Hamas War

By Sruly Meyer – COLlive

In times of tragedy, it is often the smallest gestures that make the most significant impact. Such was the case during a recent mission in Jerusalem, where Shluchim from around the world came together to spread some much-needed joy to young refugees from the Simchas Torah attack by Hamas.

The excitement took place at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem, which has become a temporary home to nearly 120 families displaced from Kfar Maimon, one of the towns near the Gaza border which was evacuated after the Hamas massacre on October 7. These families have endured unimaginable hardships, and their children’s lives have been disrupted, including the beautiful and joyous holiday of Simchas Torah.

The hotel was also the location where the delegation of 27 Shluchim from the US and around the world were staying during their 4-day trip to bring strength and encouragement to the people of Israel.

Rabbi David Eliezrie, one of the Shluchim in the delegation, related that the Shluchim spent a lot of time talking to the Kfar Maimon survivors in the hotel, both individually and to the families.

On the last night of the Shluchim’s trip, an impromptu celebration took place, organized by Rabbi Michi Ravnoy, Director of the Friendship Circle of Los Angeles, with the children refugees from the terror attack who were unable to celebrate Simchas Torah.

With the simple goal of bringing some happiness into the lives of these young refugees, the Shluchim decided to organize a semi-Simchas Torah celebration. They didn’t have Torahs, but they had the spirit and determination to create a memorable experience. The festivities began late at night, around 10:30 or so, and continued until 1 o’clock in the morning in the hotel’s lobby.

Rabbi Michi Ravnoy, who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the celebration, described how it came about.

“We had just come back from a many-hours long and tiring trip, and I still had my guitar with me. We sat down and began a farbrengen, and a handful of us just started dancing with these kids. Soon, it turned into a mini Simchas Torah, with dancing and singing. We even did hakafos and sang Simchas Torah nigunim,” he describes.

“It just started out of nowhere, and I knew the Shluchim were tired and jet lagged from their 4-day trip around Israel, but I sent a message to our group chat, and within minutes a bunch of us were downstairs joining in the dancing and simcha!” Rabbi Ravnoy said, as he was soon joined by Rabbi Hertzel Peer from Persian Youth in Chabad of Los Angeles, Rabbi Dov Muchnik from Oxnard, Rabbi Shnuer Cadaner, Rabbi Yaakov Zucker from Key West, Rabbi Simcha Minkowitz from Florida and Rabbi Yanky Kahan from Los Angeles, who joined and enthusiastically participated in bringing joy to these young refugees.

The language barrier was no obstacle to the power of music and dance. Rabbi Ravnoy continued, “Many of these kids didn’t even speak English, but they danced. There was a young boy who was in a wheelchair, and we danced around him as well, the joy spread to all.”

All of this took place in the lobby of the hotel, and to their great joy, not only did the staff not complain about or interfere with the loud excitement, they encouraged it and some staff even joined in the dancing, the Shluchim said.

A grateful message from Rabbi Uriel Nahum, the Rabbi of Kfar Maimon, encapsulated the impact of this event: “I want to thank you very much for this event and wish us all better days.”

Reflecting on the unforgettable evening, Rabbi Ravnoy expressed, “I didn’t even believe this was happening. It felt like we were literally a vessel for Hashem to give these kids the joy they needed in this hard time.”

Even though it had been almost a month since the tragedy in Kfar Maimon, the resilience and spirit of these young refugees shone through. As Rabbi Choni Marazov from Santa Clarita, California, who also danced, noted, “A boy came to us and said, ‘Thank you for turning the black Shabbos into a happy day.’ We were honored to be able to give them this experience.”

The Shluchim were grateful that a spontaneous act of kindness and celebration transformed the lives of these young refugees. As Rabbi Ravnoy described it, “It felt like the dancing we will do when Moshiach comes!”