Jewish Center of Teaneck to host Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon for communitywide melave malka in support of Kerem Shalom.
On Motzaei Shabbat, December 21, at 8 p.m., our community looks forward to welcoming HaRav Yosef Zvi Rimon back to The Jewish Center of Teaneck for a melave malka, in an evening dedicated to the support of Kerem Shalom. Please register for the event using this link: https://www.jcot.org/form/melavemalkasupportofkeremshalom.html (and see ad on opposite page).
Almost exactly one year ago, we were privileged to welcome Rav Rimon, one of Eretz Yisrael’s leading poskim, to our community for an evening in support of the displaced residents of Southern Israel. Rav Rimon, the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, whose Torah learning is matched by his tireless commitment to Am Yisrael, has taken a leading role since October 7 through his organization, Sulamot, caring for those most directly impacted by the war: the soldiers, their families, the displaced, and, sadly, the widows, orphans and wounded.
With Hashem’s help, and your generosity, we were able to raise approximately $400,000 in that special evening for those who had lost their homes, and so much more, on Israel’s darkest day.
That very night, a group of fellow rabbonim and I met with Rav Rimon and committed to take the next step forward. We would pair with the community of Kerem Shalom, which was brutally attacked by hundreds of terrorists, to raise $1 million to help rebuild their community and to invest in the security, medical and recreational infrastructure to ensure that our brothers and sisters would be able to return home in safety and in security.
Hamas came to permanently erase Kerem Shalom from the map, to leave it judenrein. Our response would be to not only deny them that victory, but, as has always been the case with Am Yisrael, כאשר יענו אותו כן ירבה וכן יפרוץ, that as they oppress us, we grow in number and in strength.
Just as importantly, we committed to doing everything in our power to provide chizuk to our brothers and sisters who had undergone such a profound trauma, to building deep and lasting relationships with the wonderful people of Kerem Shalom, an oasis of true achdut.
Looking back one year later, we have been blessed so many times over. We have been on two missions to Kerem Shalom. The first, last February, with over 130 participants, was the largest taken from North America at any point since the war began. This was followed by another mission this past August, and will be followed, with Hashem’s help, with a third mission this coming February (to register for the mission by January 1, 2025 please use this form: https://form.jotform.com/243002522100432).
We have received special delegations from Kerem Shalom for two missions to us, one this past May, and then, most recently, in September. We look forward, God willing, to another visit from them in April.
During this time, your generosity has allowed us to raise nearly 70% of our target goal of $1 million. We have made major upgrades to the security and medical infrastructure of Kerem Shalom, including an armored ambulance, a new state-of-the-art security vehicle and drone surveillance; provided direct assistance to the families of those killed and wounded on October 7; and invested in a beautiful new playground for Kerem Shalom’s children.
On December 22, we will have a chance to hear words of inspiration from Rav Rimon, see a brief film with an update regarding our infrastructure projects in Kerem Shalom, and raise the remainder of our commitment to Kerem Shalom to invest in a beautiful new sports facility for the children of Kerem Shalom, including soccer fields, basketball courts and tennis courts.
We do so in the memory of Yaron Shai, HY”D, a young soldier, born right here in Bergen County, who gave his life in defense of Kerem Shalom on October 7, killing dozens of Hamas terrorists before finally succumbing to the terrorists. In so doing, he saved hundreds of lives, preventing the vast majority of terrorists from breaching the kibbutz.
In his short life, Yaron loved sports. In consultation with his parents, we have determined that providing these facilities to the town of Kerem Shalom, so that generations of children—both those who wait every day to be able to return to their homes, as well as those yet unborn—will be able to play in joy and security, is the most fitting way of honoring the memory of this kadosh.
There are really only a few times in life when Providence provides us with opportunities to make a great difference in the direction of Am Yisrael. This war, and the sacred work of healing our people from all that has been lost, is one such moment.
Let us continue to rise to the occasion, so that, years and decades from now, we can watch with pride as Kerem Shalom bustles with Jewish life, and celebrate the ultimate victory possible over those who rose up to destroy us.
Rabbi Daniel Fridman is the rabbi of the Jewish Center of Teaneck and vice president for Community Relations, RCBC.
