May 1957, Kfar Chabad: The small fledgling community founded by Russian Lubavitcher immigrants was shaken to the core when Islamic terrorists (“fedayeen”) attacked the village, murdering five children and their melamed during Maariv in their classroom. Ten other children were severely wounded, and all the residents of Kfar Chabad were left with shattered hearts.
Unsure of the future, these Yidden who had survived the brutal Russian exile considered a logical course of action: dismantling their settlement and moving elsewhere. First, of course, they turned to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt”l, for guidance.
In their telegrams to the rebbe, they filled in details of the massacre and poured out their pain and their doubts. Should they continue in their mission of establishing a settlement and kehillah in that particular area? And in any case, where would they find the strength to continue after such a horrifying, painful attack?
The rebbe’s telegram response contained a single sentence: The rebbe’s telegram response contained a single sentence: בהמשך הבנין תנחמו—“By continuing to build will you be comforted.”—“By continuing to build will you be comforted.”
The residents of Kfar Chabad had received their marching orders, and knew what they had to do. That very night the leadership and community met to discuss how to proceed, and plans were drawn for a new vocational school for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Indeed, on the very plot of land where Jewish blood had been spilled—in the very spot where the tragedy had occurred—a new, larger school would be built (based on an article in Yediot Acharonot, via Chabad.org).
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We have gone through so much, so many generations of exiles, painful tragedies and unfathomable sufferings—but the only way for a Jew to go forward is to continue to build.
The Navi Micha warns our enemies not to rejoice over our suffering and tragedies, for even if we fall, we will always rise again: אל תשמחי אויבתי לי כי נפלתי קמתי—“ … Although I have fallen, I will arise.” The word כי does not only mean “although,” it can also be translated as “because.” “Because we have fallen, and as a result of all we have endured as a people, קמתי—we will rise!”
Following these three weeks of reflection and mourning, Shabbos Nachamu is an opportunity for us to gather our strength, and to look forward to what we will build. In the wake of October 7th/Simchas Torah and Charvot Barzel, there has been a proliferation of projects, initiatives to build up our people and honor our fallen.
In every city and community in Eretz Yisrael and across the world, sifrei Torah are being dedicated and completed with great emunah and simchas mitzvah. New shuls and Torah centers have been dedicated in Bnei Dekalim, Beit Shean, Neryah, Otniel and Charish, a new neighborhood in memory of Elkanah Leibman, HY”D, is being built in the Chevron hills, as is the Beit Binyamin Center in Tzfat, and other expressions of “kamti” all across the land. Am Yisrael is building on the heroic foundations of those who gave their lives in defense of Am Yisrael: בהמשך הבנין תנחמו—“In continuously building, we will be comforted!”
Rabbi Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. He is the mashpiah of OU-NCSY, founder of Tzama Nafshi and the author of “Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva.” Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife Ora and their family.
