“We are getting close to redemption” : Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman gave a unifying message to the Jewish People in the shadow of war. Watch the full interview on Channel 14
Rabbi Grossman came to encourage the pilots and ground crew at the IAF Ramat David Air Base
This morning, Israel Prize Recipient, and President of Migdal Ohr Institutions, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman visited the IAF’s Wing 1 in northern Israel, in order to encourage the pilots, technicians and team members who worked day and night, not resting for a minute. The rabbi waiting for every jet that returned from activity and every pilot and team member who disembarked the pilot. He kissed and hugged them and thanked them for their hard and holy work. Additionally, he handed out hundreds of special coins to the soldiers and pilots, to protect them, and at the end of the war, they will donate these coins to charity.
When handing out the coins, the Rabbi told the soldiers that during the Second Lebanon War, he gave out 700 coins to paratroopers, who all returned home in peace as mitzvah messengers. “So you too are mitzvah messengers, go in peace and return in peace and may you not be harmed,” said the Rabbi with emotion. At the end of the encounter, the Wing 1 Commander, Colonel A.A., presented Rabbi Grossman with his personal badge from his uniform. “I always give influential figures in Israeli society the unit’s flag, but in appreciation for your activity, I would like to present you with my personal badge,” – this gesture brought tears to the Rabbi’s eyes.
Major Rabbi Moshe Korkus, Rabbi of Wing 1, said: “It has been our honor and pleasure to host Israel Prize Recipient Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman at Wing 1. The rabbi’s visit gave commanders and soldiers the spirit and strength to continue their fighting. We were very moved when he handed out the coins to protect each and every soldier on the base. When I saw the rabbi hug and thank the brave pilots at the base I was moved, there is no doubt that his visit will reverberate for years to come”.
Rabbi Grossman visited the Jerusalem Hotels where Migdal Ohr evacuated hundreds of families from the Gaza Envelope through the Magen Yisrael Campaign
Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman visited hundreds of families today who had been evacuated by Migdal Ohr Organization to the hotels in Jerusalem.
As part of the Migdal Ohr’s Magen Yisrael Campaign, hundreds of families were evacuated to a safe place in Jerusalem. Rabbi Grossman: “We organized buses, brought them to a few hotels in Jerusalem, and they arrived without anything. They just came as they were, some in their pajamas from that terrible morning.
Migdal Ohr volunteers made sure the evacuees received whatever they needed: clothing, games and toys for children, books, food for infants, diapers, etc. The organization runs social activities for adults and children in order to ease, at least momentarily, their fears and worries and to distract their thoughts from the terrible trauma they experienced.
Rabbi Grossman came to visit and to ensure that there was a solution for all of their needs. During his visit, he said: “The most important thing was to give them the feeling that they are in a safe place and that the Jewish People stands behind them”.
More than 200 special education pupils from the Gaza Envelope have been transferred for activity outside the range of fire through the Migdal Ohr’s Magen Yisrael Campaign
Since the fighting began in southern Israel, more than 200 special education pupils of the Tov Umarpeh Organization have attended activities run for them by the Migdal Ohr Organization, spearheaded by Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman. During the first days of the war, the pupils remained in their homes due to the closure of educational institutions, leading to their regression, fear and primarily to a lack of understanding of the situation in which they found themselves. Consequently, the Migdal Ohr Organization began to run diverse and fun activities suited to the children, some of whom with difficult disabilities and special needs. The activities were held in Beitar, Jerusalem and Modi’in.
“This activity is like a breath of fresh air for the parents,” said Yisrael Parosh, father of Elisheva (26), a special girl. He founded the Tov Umarpeh Organization with his wife Esther many years ago. “From the first moment that we understood that the educational system would not be operated, due to the situation, we recruited our staff. Some of our children are at a very low level of functioning, who do not communicate with their surroundings and need close assistance. The children experienced difficulties that were unfamiliar to them and could not always express themselves. They withdrew, were terrified by every siren and noise. Each child expressed this fear in a different way, and currently, everything is much more intense for them, more extreme and this is seen in their body language and we try to calm them down.”
Migdal Ohr Organization President, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman emphasized that “this vital work was conducted throughout the year, especially during sensitive periods such this one, emphasizing the strength of man and the power of society that is measured in its sensitivity and strength and activity on behalf of each person. Thanks to our dedicated and loving staff, Israeli children with disabilities at any age can live full and rich lives as their peers, and are accepted by most of the population and develop well beyond the original forecasts. Every person has the natural right for respect and the highest quality of life in order for them to reach their full potential in a loving and supportive community, on a daily basis. We embrace these children and do so to enable them to grow and live happy, honorable and meaningful lives.”
“The parents thank us for helping them cope with impossible challenges of protecting their child with special needs during a time of war, the incessant sirens and bombing,” added Yisrael. “We are familiar with this at home, we know what they are talking about. People tell us that their home had changed from the moment the war began, and they didn’t know what to do, since all the frameworks were not in operation, and from the moment they joined our day camp, their life was much calmer”.
Staff Sergeant Shalev Baranes and four of his comrades waged a heroic battle against 150 terrorists, knowing that they would not return and they fought until the last bullet. Rabbi Grossman eulogized him.
On October 7th, Shalev Baranes of the Golani 13th Battalion, was with his friends at the Magen Be’eri Outpost when the terrorists invaded and tried to set the dining room on fire, the soldiers who remained alive were hiding in this dining room. With great resourcefulness and bravery, Shalev and some of his comrades set out to fight and hold back the terrorists. This step cost them their lives, but saved at least 20 other soldiers.
Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, came to support Shalev’s family and to eulogize him at the gravesite.
“Staff Sergeant, Shalev Baranes is an Israeli hero who was taught values of giving back and contributing to the State of Israel. Thanks to the heroism and self-sacrifice of soldiers like Baranes, the Jewish People have a stretch of land in which their forefathers lived – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and upon which our prophets walked and where the Holy Temple stood, and the kingdom of Israel reigned.
We share the sorrow of the family and the sorrow of the many families whose loved ones fell on behalf of the revival and security of the State of Israel. We embrace the families who have joined the circle of bereaved families during this war that is still raging on.
Staff Sergeant Shalev Baranes fell on the 24th of Tishri 5784 (7.10.2023). He was 20 years old. He was buried at the Kfar Baruch Civilian Cemetery. He left behind his parents, a sister and brother.
May his memory be a blessing.
Members of the Ohr Yisraeli Youth Movement enlisted to help the Magen Yisrael Campaign and have packed food baskets for families from the south and IDF soldiers.
With the outbreak of the war, the counselors and members of the Ohr Yisraeli Youth Movement, founded by Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, began to pack food baskets for families of the south and gift packages for IDF soldiers.
These packages are filled with good products, packed with a lot of love and hope and encourage their recipients. Members of the youth movement have learned from Rabbi Grossman that anywhere there are those in need of assistance, they must lend a helping hand. Some packaged food baskets and gift packages for soldiers and others went to the hospitals to help families of the wounded who were at the bedside of their loved ones during this difficult time.
This is the time for mutual assistance and if you can help out, do so however you can. We will only be victorious together!
A moving experience! Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman participated in the circumcision of the Weiss Family, who were evacuated from the Naveh settlement in the Gaza Envelope and were moved by Migdal Ohr to a hotel in Jerusalem.
Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman attended a circumcision ceremony of the Weiss Family at Sha’arei Yerushalayim Hotel, where they were evacuated by Migdal Ohr together with hundreds of other families. The Rabbi visited the evacuated families, including the Weiss Family, who had been moved from Naveh settlement who were holding a circumcision ceremony for their son. The Rabbi held the baby and blessed him with blessing of accepting the yoke of Heaven, ending with the Shema Yisrael prayer and a prayer for better days to come. Among the other participants were former Education Minister, Brigadier General (Res.) Rabbi Rafi Peretz, who is the Rabbi of their settlement and was evacuated together with the other residents.
Following the Simchat Torah massacre, 2,000 residents of the Gaza Envelope were evacuated by the Migdal Ohr Organization to the Sha’arei Yerushalayim and Shalom Hotels in Jerusalem.
“These are very difficult days a very difficult period for the Jewish People,” said Ziv, the father of the family, who was leaving for reserve duty in the 98th Division. “We are haunted by the visions and atrocities that we have witnessed. Amidst all this darkness, the brit (circumcision) of our son is a small source of happiness for us, and proof that no one can really destroy the Jewish people – life must go on and we will return to settling the land. Currently, I am in reserve duty in order to protect the Jewish people.” Another evacuee said: “We were very moved by the quick assistance by Rabbi Grossman and his teams. The Rabbi sat with each of us, listened to the atrocities that we experienced and promised us that we are not alone and that the Jewish People will unite during these difficult days.”
Rabbi Grossman noted that “we came to strengthen the families, and we tried to do everything we could to help them get through these day, together and in the best possible manner”.
The Migdal Ohr Organization has helped evacuate some 2,000 residents of the South to hotels in Jerusalem. Rabbi Grossman: “Residents of the Gaza Envelope have experienced the worst and now need to be embraced with love”
The Migdal Ohr Organization has enlisted to help evacuate the residents of the south and the Gaza Envelope and is running the Organization’s Magen Yisrael initiative – providing humanitarian aid in times of crisis.
Following the Simchat Torah massacre, 2,000 residents of the south and the Gaza Envelope were evacuated to the Sha’arei Yerushalayim and the Shalom Hotels in Jerusalem, by the Migdal Ohr Organization that assumed the responsibility for the logistics, including moving the residents with organized transportation and caring for their basic needs, such as providing them with diapers, wet wipes and games and books for the children.
Rabbi Grossman: “These families underwent a tragedy, and currently need to be embraced with love and taken care of. Some have lost their loved ones in a viscous manner and many have been left with nothing, as their homes were burnt and completely destroyed. Migdal Ohr, under my leadership, will help them with whatever is necessary to overcome this terrible trauma and to recover”.
The State of Israel is in its most difficult hour in its history. Rabbi Grossman calls on the public: “This is the time to unite against the cruel enemy. Only together, will we be victorious!”
Shemini Atzeret, also known as Simchat Torah, is the day God spends personal time with each and every one of us and answers our prayers.
This happy day became a day of deep sorrow.
This is a difficult time for the State of Israel, as it mourns the murder of so many Israelis, may their souls be bound in the bonds of life.
Let us all pray together for the recovery of those wounded in the heinous attack and strengthen all of the IDF forces, the defense and rescue forces, because they are the emissaries of your people God, who are approaching a war against their enemies.
Please listen to the instructions of the Home Frfont Command and take care of yourselves.
The People of Israel Lives!
Together we will be victorious!
Education Minister, Yoav Kisch visits the Zoharim Youth Village. He said at the conclusion of his visit: “You are simply saving teenagers from an uncertain future”
Today we are honored to host Education Minister, Yoav Kisch, at the Zoharim Youth Village. The minister met with the pupils, heard their personal stories and was very moved to witness the wonderful journey that each of them has traveled, in order to change the course of his life, for the good. Minister Kisch: “They take these children and save them from an uncertain future. They build them up, strengthen them with a lot of love and attention. Well done! I met the teens and was moved. It is very exciting to see the work you do here with the youth.” Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, founder of the youth village, thanked the minister for his important visit and for the support of is team and ministry to ensure that the youth village continues to grow and to empower the teens.
