Teaneck has risen to the top in looking after its Israeli brothers and sisters. During the last challenging and often frightening 14 months, the Teaneck community has shown unmatched solidarity with acheinu in Eretz Yisrael as they fought off seven enemies surrounding them. From the largest mission of 130 participants last February to the largest number of duffel bags delivered daily to Ben-Gurion Airport, and many ongoing efforts in between, Teaneck has made a name for itself as a community of true chesed.

Continuing in this path, over 20 shuls in Teaneck have adopted the small kibbutz closest to Gaza and Egypt, a mere 40 meters from the notorious city of Rafah—Kerem Shalom. As Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, mara d’asra of Congregation Beth Aaron and a participant in the initial mission to Israel, expressed in his introductory remarks, with the mantra of Yosef HaTzadik in Parshat Vayeshev, “We are looking for our brothers, looking to return them from where they were displaced after October 7, looking to restore to them their peace of mind, looking to return them to their homes, and looking to provide a rich and carefree childhood to their youngsters.”

Resulting from a conversation during the weeks following October 7, 2023 between Rabbi Daniel Fridman of the Jewish Center of Teaneck and Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon, chief rabbi of Gush Etzion, rosh yeshiva of Lev Academic Center, and community rabbi of Alon Shvut South, the relationship was forged between Teaneck and Kerem Shalom.

Rav Rimon, one of the most proactive and influential Israeli figures during the last 14 months, suggested to Rabbi Fridman that our community adopt Kerem Shalom as it is a rare symbol of the success in the bonding of its 45 dati and chiloni families into one homogeneous community, working towards the benefit of all and acceding to the requests of each other with derech eretz, true respect.

On October 7, the nine members of the security team at Kerem Shalom defended their kibbutz against hundreds of terrorists. Their heroic actions resulted in the loss of several members of the kibbutz, including Amichai Weitzen and Yedidya Raziel, who were killed while rescuing the Schindler family, where terrorists had blasted off the door and were preparing to slaughter an entire family, including six children.

Many more terrorists would have infiltrated the kibbutz had it not been for the heroic actions of Yaron Shai, Hy”d. Early that morning, Shai, a commando in the Nachal brigade, drove his jeep and placed it just outside of Kerem Shalom, placing himself between hundreds of terrorists and the men, women and children of the kibbutz. After killing many dozens of terrorists, Shai was killed.

Shai’s parents recently visited the Jewish Center of Teaneck where they promoted a moving film about their heroic son and his fellow chayalim. Now, as a result of the linking of Teaneck and Kerem Shalom, a state-of-the-art sports center for children will be constructed in the kibbutz, dedicated to Shai’s memory, in tribute to his love of children and athletics. This is yet another stride towards returning life in this unique oasis of unity to a place of normalcy and nurturing for its youth.

Teaneck was once again honored by the presence of Rav Rimon at a melave malka held at the Jewish Center of Teaneck on Motzei Shabbat, December 21. Participants braved the icy temperatures to pay honor to this towering hero of Israel whose days and nights are devoted to helping individuals and communities with halachic rulings and on-the-ground physical and emotional necessities during these intensely difficult times.

In his remarks, Rav Rimon referenced a secret Mossad meeting that took place shortly after the outbreak of the war, when top officials concluded that if the war had taken place before October 7, when Israel was mired in an internal war of conflict and strife, we would certainly have lost the battle. But after October 7, when the overwhelming unity of the country was evident with citizens joining forces against the enemy together, there was no doubt that we would win. Complimenting the ongoing, unmatched efforts of the Teaneck community on behalf of Kerem Shalom, Rav Rimon shared that security and medical resources are essential, but at the top of the list is ensuring the happiness and emotional well-being of the traumatized youth of Kerem Shalom, to which the Teaneck community is contributing through the new playgrounds and sports complex.

Teaneck resident Pearl Rawson shared her experiences as a participant in both missions to Kerem Shalom, and her planned participation in the third mission. “The mission changed my life. I met with members of the security team who risked their lives to save members of their own and nearby kibbutzim. I met the courageous wives of heroic fallen soldiers such as Talia Weitzen and Shira Raziel who are determined to carry on as both mother and father to their children with positivity and hope. I will never forget the spontaneous, joyous dancing of the children of Kerem Shalom during our visit to the upbeat lyrics ‘Ivdu et Hashem b’simcha,’ serve Hashem with joy! I am determined to join the upcoming mission in February to inspire as well as be inspired.”

Rabbi Fridman is passionate about the community’s overwhelming support of Kerem Shalom. He proudly reported that before the melave malka, $700,000 had already been raised for the medical and security needs of Kerem Shalom.

In advance of the melave malka, an additional $140,000 was pledged for the playground and sports complex, and hopefully, with the money that will be raised in response to the melave malka the goal of $1 million will be reached.

“The message of Kerem Shalom is clear,” Rabbi Fridman said. “We will not give up one inch of the land for which we waited 2,000 years to return. They came to destroy, and we will build it back bigger and stronger, so that our enemies will despair of ever trying to destroy us again.

“There is no place attacked on October 7 more deserving of our support than Kerem Shalom,” Rabbi Fridman continued. “It is a place which proves that through hard work and mutual love, different kinds of Jews can live together not only in peace, but with true love. Kerem Shalom is the antidote to sinat chinam, which caused our destruction in the first place, and is the single greatest threat to the Jewish people today.”

Rabbi Fridman urges the community to join him and Rabbi Rothwachs on the upcoming Bergen County Unity Mission to Israel, February 18-20, 2025. The mission is being held in partnership with Mizrachi. Meetings with Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, Rav Doron Perez, MK Matan Kahane as well as other members of Knesset are planned. Shared activities with the residents of Kerem Shalom as well as visits to families of hostages and volunteering experiences will be included. “Join us in a life-changing experience for yourself and our brethren in Eretz Yisrael.”

To make a tax-deductible contribution to Kerem Shalom, please be in touch with Rabbi Fridman at [email protected] for all donation information. To register for the mission before January 1, 2025 go to mizrachi.org/bergencounty. For questions, please contact Rabbi Daniel Fridman at [email protected]