(Courtesy of Midreshet Lindenbaum) At a time when we have seen the worst, it’s the extraordinary display of solidarity and support that continues to bring light into the world and provides us with strength and resilience. For the overseas students of Ohr Torah Stone’s Midreshet Lindenbaum, being in seminary during the outbreak of war has been an opportunity to be exposed to both “the most heart-wrenching and the most heartwarming time to be in Israel,” according to Eliana Brookman of Silver Spring, Maryland.
It was also an opportunity for the young women from North America and the United Kingdom to become a real part of the nation, immediately springing into action to contribute to the war effort.
With hundreds of thousands of IDF reserve soldiers mobilized overnight, families all around the country have been thrust into instability and uncertainty. To help support the wives and families of mobilized soldiers in their area, overseas students from the Jerusalem seminary program have adopted families in their neighborhood affected by the ongoing military mobilization.
With the young women helping in a variety of ways ranging from babysitting, organizing activities for the children, and cooking meals for the families left behind, their dedication to the cause has not only touched the hearts of those they are helping but also serves as a much-needed distraction from the news.
Ellie Weisberg of Teaneck shared her thoughts on the impact of their efforts. “Because we are in Israel, we are engulfed in an overwhelming sense of achdut. We have been a part of the grief, standing together as a midrasha on the street with Israeli flags to accompany the families on their way to funerals. We have been a part of the chesed by feeding families in need and packing over 40,000 meals for soldiers and by running a day camp in our midrasha for children who have parents in reserves or are refugees from the south.”
At the day camp, some of the mothers shared that they hadn’t seen their kids smile in days. One woman, an evacuee from the south, told organizers that this was the first time that her 11-year-old daughter felt safe enough to put down the bag containing her cell phone since the war broke out.
“I am so appreciative that I get to be a part of a positive impact firsthand, and to see with my own eyes what ‘One Nation With One Heart’ truly means,” Weisberg said.
In a heartfelt letter of thanks, a soldier recruited to the emergency mobilization expressed his gratitude for the support Midreshet Lindenbaum was providing to his wife and children. “As a combat soldier who was called up on Shabbat Simchat Torah and left my wife and five kids at home, hearing about what you do doesn’t only help my wife, it also motivates and encourages me to do what I need to do. Thank you! This is truly a big help, and you should know that you are a part of defending Israel.”
Apart from their efforts to support those in their community, the young women have also taken part in the mitzvah of preparing tzitzit for soldiers. When Rabbi Asher Weiss decided that women can participate in tying the knots during this time of crisis for the People of Israel, the Midreshet Lindenbaum Overseas Program students immediately volunteered.
“It means so much to me that I am able to take part in this essential and meaningful initiative,” said Talia Distenfeld of Boca Raton, Florida. “I know that by directly helping the soldiers on the front lines, I am giving back to those who protect me and am playing an active role in the protection of the state of Israel. Somewhere, there are brave soldiers defending my home and wearing pairs of tzitzit that I tied.”
“It’s been truly incredible seeing all the different ways that both staff and students have stepped up to bring so much light in such dark times,” said Daniella Taub, a student from Cleveland, Ohio. “Through various projects including sending care packages, tying tzitzit for soldiers and more, we have been able to see how every small act of chesed has such a big impact. It’s amazing to see how instead of letting hard times draw us apart, they really just bring Am Yisrael so much closer together.”
Eliana Samuels of Great Neck, New York, shared how helping others can truly help the volunteer. “It’s been incredible to feel like we’ve been really helping support Israel through this difficult time. Whether I’m babysitting for children of mobilized parents, tying tzitzit for soldiers or making meals for families, I feel really fulfilled in the chesed that we’re all doing, whether it’s individually, as a midrasha, or as all of Am Yisrael.”
