For almost forty years, Rabbi Moshe-Zav Pizm, has been the director of the Chabad Center in Sderot, located directly on the Gaza border. Over the years he and his family have endured and witnessed many difficulties. Even during the most challenging times he never once thought of leaving the city, and now he says, is no different. He, together with his family are committed to do anything and everything possible, to support, comfort and uplift the spirits of the Sderot residents regardless of the horrific situation they are now faced with.
Rabbi Pizm recalls the various accounts which took place the night of Simchat Torah: With roughly two hundred people in attendance, all participating after services, in the Hakafot dancing which went on until the wee hours of the night, there was tremendous joy in the synagogue. Tired and inspired, we each went home smiling from ear to ear with anticipation for even greater joy the following morning, sadly this joy never came.
Early morning greeted us with deadly sounds of shots being fired, coupled with multiple explosions. We have unfortunately heard similar sounds in the past but this was different. Suddenly, we heard an announcement over a loudspeaker notifying residents not to leave the houses, because terrorists are loose on the streets. “Could this be?” I asked myself, “am I being delusional?”. But then, my family and I saw from the window, terrorists with automatic machine guns shooting anything in sight. My wife and I did what we could to protect the children, and did not stop praying.
Later that Simchat Torah morning I was finally able to return to the synagogue for morning services, accompanied by a number of brave soldiers. When we entered, there were nine Jews waiting for us. Everyone was in a daze, no one really knew what was going on either. Being that I was the tenth for the Minyan we closed the doors and our eyes and prayed to G-d. Meanwhile, all around us there were explosions and proclamations of red alert and war. The prayers and Hakafot dancing were intense, emotional and yes, they were quick.
As it turns out, the city of Sderot was severely attacked. Dozens of residents were killed by the terrorists. Many of our good friends, close residents, police personnel and soldiers, were taken from us in a most horrific and barbaric way. In addition, community members who were an inseparable part of the activities at the Beit Chabad, who were such an integral part of our happy circle of friends, were brutally murdered. The magnificent police station, recently inaugurated, was taken over and subsequently utterly destroyed by the inhumane terrorists.
On Sunday at noon, we began assisting with the efforts of finding and identifying those who were murdered. We were subject to scenes we had never seen before and please G-d will never see again. I reiterate, to think that in the Holy Land, our Land, terrorists would roam the streets freely? This is a chilling thought which demands a real response.
We all have painful questions, but now is not the time for questions, now is the time that we must and we are making every effort to strengthen the residents of Sderot. In the past, when Israel went through trying times, the Lubavitcher Rebbe imbued us with the message of hope, faith, confidence, commitment to G-d, our land and our people. He urged Israel to resolutely protect her borders, while at the same time adding to our daily Torah study, prayer, charity and faith in G-d.
There is no doubt in my mind that just as G-d has shown the world over the past 4000 years that the Jewish nation will come out stronger than ever after being confronted by an enemy, that he will do the same this time. The bigger the disaster, the bigger the victory, the greater the calamity, the greater the after blessing! The hope we are all feeling now is the birth of the unprecedented unity that the Jewish people are experiencing now.
My concluding message is: let us come together and help each other whichever way we can, physically, mentally, emotionally, materially or spiritually. Everyone was created by G-d with something that the other person doesn’t have, take that “something” and gift it to a person in need. And right now that person is in the Holy Land, whether it’s a mother, father, child, soldier, we need you and are asking for your help even if it’s just picking up a book of psalms and reciting a chapter for the safety and security of our brothers and sisters in the holy land, the incredible IDF, the safe return of our hostages and peace in our land AMEN!
Translated from Sichat Hashavua.
