In the heart of Ramla, a city in central Israel, lives a man whose life story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Rabbi Chaim Oter, at 70, has faced unimaginable loss, yet his response to tragedy has been to dedicate his life to serving others.
Born to a father from Yemen and a Polish mother, Chaim’s childhood in Ramla was marked by diversity and tradition. After serving in various roles in the military, he settled into married life, looking forward to building a family. But fate had other plans.
“About two months after our wedding, my wife Yocheved crossed the road and was hit by a passing car,” Chaim recalls, his voice steady despite the weight of the memory. “The injury left her completely disabled.”
Despite this challenge, the couple went on to have four children. But here, too, tragedy struck: their first child passed away at three months old, the second at four months, and the third at two years,” Chaim shares, his eyes glistening. “Our last daughter passed away eleven years ago from a malignant disease. She was 34 and left behind two daughters, aged 6.5 and 4. We’re raising them now.”
In the face of such overwhelming loss, many would have succumbed to despair. But Chaim found strength in his faith and the words of his rabbi. “My teacher and rabbi, Rabbi Avraham Shapira, taught me that everything we go through is from the Almighty.”
Rather than turning inward, Chaim and Yocheved chose to channel their grief into helping others. “We managed to transform our pain into volunteering,” Chaim explains. Thirty-two years ago, they established a soup kitchen in Ramla, which they operate every day of the week. “We also mobilize for any matter of kindness, whether it’s organizing a brit milah meal for a needy family or raising donations for tefillin for those who have limited means.”
Chaim’s day starts at 4:30 AM with prayer and study, after which he heads straight to the soup kitchen, where he remains until 8 PM. “Throughout the hours, needy people come and take food, and we respect them,” he says.
But Chaim’s service doesn’t end there. Following in his father’s footsteps, he volunteers with the Chevra Kadisha (burial society), ensuring that every deceased person in the city is treated with dignity. He also volunteers with ZAKA, Israel’s national aid network.
When tragedy struck Israel on Simchat Torah, Chaim was among the first to respond. “We engaged in the sacred preparation for burial,” he recounts. “Some of the missions in the Gaza envelope were harrowing. Among other things, we entered Zikim Beach with security forces to treat the wounded and evacuate the dead.”
The horrors he witnessed tested even his resilient spirit. “It’s hard to describe what we saw and what we did,” he says. “We worked almost eighteen hours every day. More than once, I found myself crying out: ‘Master of the Universe!’ But we knew we were dealing with holy Jews, and that gave us the strength to take a breath and overcome.”
Recently, Chaim’s lifelong dedication to others was recognized when he received the President’s Award for Volunteering. “I was shocked,” he says of the moment he heard the news. “I said to myself: Who am I and what am I, everything is for the people of Israel.”
Despite all he’s been through, Chaim’s message is one of hope and unity. “Every Jew needs to help his fellow,” he insists. “Look around, see how you can help them, what they need. Don’t leave your friend broken and ignore them. Our solution to the social crisis will start with us, with practical help from one person to another.”
Through unimaginable loss and countless acts of kindness, Rabbi Chaim Oter’s life serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in faith, unity, and compassion. His journey from tragedy to triumph is not just a personal story, but a beacon of hope for all who face adversity.
Translated from Sichat Hashavua
