Over the past few weeks, the city of Rafah, at the border of Gaza and Egypt, has been receiving international attention as Israel decides on its plans for military action in the city. For a small group of Chabad chassidim, however, the city of Rafah brings back warm memories of a very different time, 53 years ago.
At that time, in the summer of 1971, Israel was in control of the Sinai Peninsula, and tensions between Egypt and Israel were at a high, in the lead up to the Yom Kippur War just two years later. Israeli soldiers were stationed in numerous army bases and fortifications all along the country’s borders, protecting it from any potential attack from the enemies on all sides.
Meanwhile, in Kfar Chabad, the headquarters of Chabad in Israel, a telephone call came in from the Rebbe’s office in New York. The Rebbe requested that chassidim travel to visit the IDF soldiers stationed on the borders, bring them each a special letter from the Rebbe, encourage them, and celebrate the special day of Lag B’omer, which would take place in two days’ time.
The celebration of Lag B’omer, the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, marks the day on which the plague that killed 24,000 students of the Talmudical sage Rabbi Akiva came to an end. A generation later, the sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, the primary work of Kabbalah – Jewish mysticism, passed away on that date. Before his passing, he revealed the deepest secrets of the Torah and commanded his disciples to mark the day as a joyous occasion. Until today, celebrations are held around the world, with the largest of them held at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, Israel.
When the chassidim received their orders in 1971, they prepared to bring that joy to the soldiers who were risking their lives to protect their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.
Rabbi Avraham Meizlish, a Chassidic mentor in Kfar Chabad who passed away in 2015, recalled the dramatic events of the day in an interview some two decades ago.
“On the eve of Lag B'omer, several of us from Kfar Chabad set out for Sinai, carrying numerous copies of the Rebbe's letter, along with cookies and refreshments. Arriving at their first destination in the morning, they encountered a commander and sought his permission to visit the outposts along the border. Though granted access to all bases in the area, they faced reluctance concerning their journey to the outposts. ‘These shoulders,’ the officer pointed to his insignia, ‘have already sent many soldiers to the frontlines, but I'm concerned about allowing civilians, risking even one civilian's life unnecessarily,’ Rabbi Meizlish recalled.
The chassidim decided to begin their mission and figure out their next steps later on. They were provided with military helmets and vests and proceeded to nearby bases, where they were warmly welcomed. Eventually, they noticed a convoy heading towards the outposts. Seizing the opportunity, they asked the driver, almost casually, "Are you heading to the front lines?" When he replied yes, they jumped on and continued with them.
By midday, they reached the first outpost, where they distributed the Rebbe's letter, along with treats and l’chaims, to the soldiers. Their last stop was a base known as "Tempo." "Any sweets?" the outpost commander asked the convoy leader. "Sorry, not this time," the driver responded. "Too bad, one of the guys is celebrating his birthday today," the commander said sadly.
“At that moment, we jumped down from the vehicle, and unloaded the sweets and drinks for l'chaims. We arranged a birthday party for the soldier that he will never forget,” Rabbi Meizlish recalled.
On our way back to the army base where they headed out from, the group encountered a sandstorm, making it difficult to keep their eyes open. In the midst of the storm, one of them captured the moment, a memory immortalized in the photograph accompanying this article.
Upon their return to the base, they were thanked by the by the division commander who had given them the initial permission. "I've received reports from various bases about your amazing visits," he said.
As an expression of thanks, the commander showed them an arial map of all the army bases and outposts, and pointed out each one by name.
“When he pointed to the last outpost, I blurted out unintentionally, ‘That’s the Tempo base,’” Rabb Meizlish said in his interview. “‘How do you know?’ the surprised commander inquired. ‘We just came from there,’ I replied with a smile, and explained our actual whereabouts over the past hours. He chuckled, 'Well, you're clearly receiving orders directly from the Rebbe.’”
At Rafah, on their way back to Kfar Chabad, the group of chassidim had to wait until additional vehicles arrived since only conveys were permitted to travel in that area during the night hours.
“Suddenly, a bus pulled over beside us, and the driver called out, 'What are you doing here on Lag B'omer?' We recounted our experiences with the soldiers," Rabbi Meizlish recalled.
The driver became visibly emotional and stepped out of the bus to embrace chassidim. “I heard on the radio today that hundreds of thousands traveled to Meron today. You weren't in Miron, but I'm certain Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was with you today, at the border,” he told them.
