Rabbi Paysach Krohn shares a recent story about his friend, Rabbi Yaakov Gibber. Rabbi Gibber brought twenty-five of his community members to visit Israel for three days to give chizzuk—encouragement to the Jewish communities affected by the war. They visited the war front, houses of displaced families, and then they visited a hospital where injured soldiers were being treated. On the amputee unit, they came across a well-dressed 70-year-old amputee sitting by a bedside. He was clearly not a soldier, so they asked him what he is doing there.
The man smiled and explained that 51 years ago, he lost his leg fighting in the Yom Kippur war. The elderly man described that he was able to get a job, get married and enjoy time spent with his children and grandchildren. Since he became injured, he visits the hospital every day to give encouragement to the soldiers. He tells the soldiers that their lives are not over, and there is so much that they can accomplish. That is ahavat yisrael—love for your fellow Jews.
Reprinted from the Parashat Behar 5784 of Jack E. Rahmey as based on the Torah teachings of Rabbi Amram Sananes.
