In the shadow of the ongoing war, a special ceremony was recently held at the Haifa Naval Base in which 16 pairs of tefillin were distributed to 16 IDF warships. Eliyahu Gutman, director of the “Ezer Lachayil” organization, who led the effort to organize this event, tells about the experience.
“It was not an easy challenge,” says Eliyahu. “In the reality of war, when every moment is complex, organizing such a ceremony required hard work. For weeks, we coordinated with the Military Rabbinate and the military system. There were difficulties – entering the base, the permits, the logistics – but thank God, everything worked out.”
The tefillin themselves came from the Chabad community in Kfar Chabad. “At a Hasidic gathering held in the village, the community decided that each participant would donate a pair or more of tefillin,” explains Eliyahu. “That’s how we gathered the 16 pairs. Everyone wanted to take part in this mitzvah for the soldiers.”
The ceremony at the base was a significant moment. “The soldiers of the Navy, warriors who are used to difficult missions, gathered around a festive table,” describes Eliyahu. “We distributed the tefillin to remain on the ships as a spiritual shield. Right before sunset, the soldiers put on tefillin, some for the first time. When they said ‘Shema Yisrael,’ it was a special occasion.”
The atmosphere, according to Eliyahu, turned into one of Chasidic joy. “The soldiers and the organizers united in singing, and the base turned into a short gathering. It was a moment of connection between us all.”
The soldiers continue to wear tefillin even after the ceremony. “We received messages from the soldiers,” Eliyahu shares. “They say tefillin have become part of the routine on ships. One wrote: ‘In the heart of the sea, tefillin remind us of who we are.’ It’s very empowering.”
Finally, Eliyahu concludes: We were able to bring light to the soldiers in a time of war. I thank the Kfar Chabad community and all the partners for their help, 16 warships go to sea with tefillin and a connection to the people of Israel every day.”
