By Paysach J. Krohn
Rabbi Zamir Cohen
The following remarkable story was told to me by Rabbi Zamir Cohen, a prolific author, renowned lecturer, and chairman and founder of the Hidabroot kiruv organization in Petach Tikvah, Israel. In the Friday night tefillah of Lecha Dodi, we say that Shabbos is the Mekor Haberacha, the source of blessing.
In this case, was it ever! Nati and Rona Halabi* lived with their three children in the secular Nir Oz kibbutz, which lies within view of southern Gaza.
Several years ago, Rona became a baalas teshuvah, observing Shabbos, davening every day, and eating only kosher. Noam reluctantly went along with Rona; their children followed their mother’s lead.
Every Shabbos they left Nir Oz and stayed with observant friends. One Shabbos they would be in Yerushalayim, another in Ashdod, and a third in Ashkelon, but always staying with a Torah-observant family.
Why The Halabis Chose That Simchas Torah to Stay in the Kibbutz
Rona was expecting her fourth child, and the baby was due around Simchas Torah. The Halabis decided that it was probably best to stay in their kibbutz home for Yom Tov, for if Rona went into labor, she would be close to her doctor and hospital. Reluctantly, therefore, they stayed in Nir Oz and felt they would make do with the holiday spirit that they could muster.
At least there would be flags, candy apples, and some dancing with a Sefer Torah. On Simchas Torah, October 7, 2023, their community was among the hardest hit by Hamas terrorists, who savagely murdered, maimed, and kidnapped people, leaving the community scorched and shattered.
Incredibly Their Home was Bypassed by the Hamas Savages
Incredibly, none of the Hamas savages even entered the Halabi home. People in neighboring homes were killed or maimed and worse, but the Halabis, though terrified by what they heard and saw through the slits of their window shades, were spared and untouched. No one could figure out why their home was bypassed.
Two days later, when the clothing of dead Hamas terrorists was searched and captured terrorists were interrogated, the reason for the Halabis survival became known. Many of the terrorists had maps indicating which kibbutzim to enter, which homes had dogs that could attack them, where the parents’ bedrooms were, and where the children’s rooms were. These maps had been drawn by the Palestinians who for years came in from Gaza to work in these homes. They had betrayed their employers, those who provided their livelihood, by giving Hamas exact details as to where they could do the most damage.
The Secret of the Note
On the map of Nir Oz, there was a note not to bother going into the home where the Halabis lived. The note simply said, “They are never there on their Sabbath.” The Shabbos had saved them, and on the next Shabbos their child was born. Rabbi Zamir Cohen
*names have been changed
Reprinted from the Parshat Pinchas 5784 edition of At the ArtScroll Shabbos Table. (Excerpted from the ArtScroll book – “From Sorrow to Celebration.”)
