One of the lesser known byproducts of the Oct. 7 attacks and the Israel-Hamas war is a marked expansion of deep ties between members of Charedi communities in Israel and non-observant families directly affected by the attacks. And one of the organizations at the forefront to build these ties is the Kesher Yehudi organization.

Over 260 people, including 120 Nova festival survivors and their families, gathered at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem on Shabbat Parshat Beshalach (Feb. 7-8) for a special experience of Jewish diversity and unity. The Kesher Yehudi organization, founded by Tzili Schneider, also drew others who learn with a Kesher Yehudi (Orthodox) learning partner but have never experienced a full Shabbat before, and 60 students from “Mechinat Gal” in Akko, the secular pre-IDF academy where freed hostage Agam Berger spent a year prior to her army service.

What all of these participants shared was an unfamiliarity with Shabbat observance. They gathered with the Charedi learning partners who volunteer and learn one-on-one weekly with the aim of forming personal bonds and true lasting friendships.

“We bring people together with traditional texts because this is our shared legacy and since Torah belongs to every Jew, it is a good place to start. But the goal here is for people to get to know each other, to bond, to increase our love of Jews who are different from us. To bring real unity and change the atmosphere in Israel — two at a time,” said Schneider.

Speakers at the shabbaton included Rabbi Tzvi Rimon, rabbi of Gush Etzion, and Rabbi Yedidya and Sivan Rahav Meir, both successful newscasters and media personalities who have become very involved with Kesher Yehudi. Popular lecturer and historian Rabbi Yisroel Goldwasser spoke about faith even during tragedy and Yaron Avraham, a former Muslim who ran away from Hamas and eventually converted and became a proud, observant Jew, told the attendees: “It’s important to share with all of you what a privilege it is to be born into the Jewish people,” he said over Shabbat. “Don’t take it for granted.”

Jewish musicians Yonatan Razel and Shuki Solomon brought in Shabbat on Friday afternoon and led everyone in a musical Havdalah on Saturday night, which caught the attention of the many others staying in the hotel. Heidi Pikarsky is a resident of Elizabeth and director of marketing for Jewish Family Services, and happened upon the music and excitement before Shabbat and decided to participate as much as she could.

“It was so beautiful and uplifting to experience the ruach of the group” Pikarsky said. “The kiruv and work of the organization is so inspiring. What a special surprise to be a part of the unity we don’t see on the news, taking place where I happened to be staying. Black, white, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Russian and Ethiopian, ultra-Orthodox, piercings, tattoos. All together, dancing into Shabbat.”

Over the course of Shabbat, Sivan said that everyone sees the headlines every day, but what happens at these shabbatons is the real headline, the real news, that very very few see. “This is the change happening in Israel. Not anger, not protests. People getting to know each other and love each other and pray for each other. It’s not what the Israeli media wants to report, but it’s the headline that Hashem is paying attention to, for sure.”

Shaked Avraham was shot by terrorists while fleeing the Nova festival and managed to survive. He said, “After everything we have been through, it is not something to be taken for granted to have such an opportunity to sit together, learn, sing, eat and experience a Shabbat filled with such an embracing and unifying atmosphere. This was the first time since Oct. 7 that I fully observed Shabbat, and I had the privilege of doing so in the company of amazing people full of generosity and spirit. I felt like part of a big and special family, and it gave me strength, reminding me of the incredible power of unity and our tradition.”

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County Editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback. He thanks Rachel Moore for all her assistance in preparing this news story.