From our Shinshinit: Dvar Israel Jan 2022

Hello everyone! 

It’s so nice being here again 🙂 This week me and my fellow komunah came back to Toronto after our winter break in Israel straight to our quarantine Airbnb.

I cannot describe how great it is to come back and start working, in these days that is not taken for granted to be able to do the things you love to do and get the opportunity to work, even though it’s all virtual from our Airbnb right now, we are all thrilled.

The vacation in Israel was great! Seeing all your friends and family again and spending time with everyone is amazing and sharing all of your experiences here is even more amazing.

Unfortunately, while I was in Israel, an awful accident happened in an army base, two officers, Itamar Elharar and Ofek Aharon were killed as a result of a misidentification that led to a two-way shooting.

The incident was shocking and was even more shocking to find out how Israel is actually small because all of a sudden you know so many people that knew those two officers,and it is very sad.

After I came back to Toronto, I saw an article about the family of one of the soldiers, saying they totally forget the soldier that accidentally shot their son, saying they know that that’s what their son would have done if he was in their place, and I was so amazed by their nobility, saying you forget after such a tragedy is one of the most difficult things to do.

Forgiveness is hard to admit but in one little word the family helped to save the wounded soul of the shooting soldier, who will carry his guilt through the rest of his life, and that is something I find very amazing to do.

I find it very Israeli to rise up after awful tragedies and help each other, and

being so far away from Israel and only being updated about what’s happening there through the news, I got to realize how many tragedies are happening every single day, and how being there for each other can actually help.

At first when I heard of this story, immediately I was full of anger towards the shooting soldier, saying how can he have something like that, such a “stupid” mistake, but seeing the family forgive, the family itself, you realize the anger has no actual purpose in their lives right now, mistakes happen and saving the living soul of that soldier is actually so important, and sometimes when something bad happens to you, you are just looking for someone to blame, even though the feeling of hate will just make it harder for you to move on in your life.

I am full of hope that the families, and the soldier, will find peace in their lives after this tragic incident, as much as they actually can, and for those kinds of mistakes to not repeat themselves anymore.

Thanks for listening, have a wonderful Shabbat, Aviv.