Posted on 01/02/24
School Kicks Off First Teen OU Relief Israel Mission During the War
Among the numerous heroes eight Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) high school students met on a recent, life-changing Israel trip with OU Relief Missions, the patients at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan who suffered critical injuries made the greatest impression. Not because of the life-altering trauma they sustained, but because of their incredible strength and optimism. People like Amichai Schindler from Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on the Gaza border, whose hands were blown off by Hamas terrorists on Simchat Torah as he struggled to hold his family’s bomb shelter door closed.
Amichai and his wife Avital told 11th and 12th graders Yonatan Brothman, Jonah Miller, Aron Major, Benny Zelig, Aryeh Eizikovitz, Eytan Kirschenbaum, Dani Needle and Josh Schneider that they don’t focus on what they’ve lost, but rather on what they have — their lives, their land and their ability to serve Hashem. Amichai’s only challenge now, he maintained, is to determine his new purpose in life.
Then there were the numerous chayalim at Tel Hashomer who had lost their legs in battle.
“On behalf of the teens, I asked these soldiers if they would do it all over again,” says Director of OU Relief Missions Rabbi Ethan Katz, who co-organized the trip and accompanied the boys along with TABC Associate Principal Rabbi Steven Finkelstein. “Not only did they say they would absolutely do it again; they encouraged the boys to make Aliyah and to join the army. Every person we met spoke about having no regrets. It really impacted the teens.”
Despite briefing the students extensively about what they might expect to see and feel on the five-day December mission, both rabbis agree that no amount of advance preparation could have adequately prepared them for this experience.
“One of the things that was so powerful and may have helped the boys to cope with the hardship they witnessed was the lens through which those suffering from traumas recounted their stories with resolve and determination,” says Rabbi Finkelstein, who also runs a social work practice.
“Every person we met, whether it was soldiers who lost limbs, or a bereaved mother who lost a son in battle, had this overall sense that they have a mission that is greater than themselves. The entire country just seems focused on what has to happen — whether it was a soldier guarding the border in East Jerusalem saying that he has to be there to defend everyone, or a family from Sderot who chooses to return to live there so the rest of the country will be safe, every life decision that these people are making is with a sense of purpose. The people who went through trauma aren't allowing themselves to be overwhelmed with grief, and their courage pushed us to follow the tone they set.”
Among the numerous heroes eight Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) high school students met on a recent, life-changing Israel trip with OU Relief Missions, the patients at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan who suffered critical injuries made the greatest impression. Not because of the life-altering trauma they sustained, but because of their incredible strength and optimism. People like Amichai Schindler from Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on the Gaza border, whose hands were blown off by Hamas terrorists on Simchat Torah as he struggled to hold his family’s bomb shelter door closed.
Amichai and his wife Avital told 11th and 12th graders Yonatan Brothman, Jonah Miller, Aron Major, Benny Zelig, Aryeh Eizikovitz, Eytan Kirschenbaum, Dani Needle and Josh Schneider that they don’t focus on what they’ve lost, but rather on what they have — their lives, their land and their ability to serve Hashem. Amichai’s only challenge now, he maintained, is to determine his new purpose in life.
Then there were the numerous chayalim at Tel Hashomer who had lost their legs in battle.
“On behalf of the teens, I asked these soldiers if they would do it all over again,” says Director of OU Relief Missions Rabbi Ethan Katz, who co-organized the trip and accompanied the boys along with TABC Associate Principal Rabbi Steven Finkelstein. “Not only did they say they would absolutely do it again; they encouraged the boys to make Aliyah and to join the army. Every person we met spoke about having no regrets. It really impacted the teens.”
Despite briefing the students extensively about what they might expect to see and feel on the five-day December mission, both rabbis agree that no amount of advance preparation could have adequately prepared them for this experience.
“One of the things that was so powerful and may have helped the boys to cope with the hardship they witnessed was the lens through which those suffering from traumas recounted their stories with resolve and determination,” says Rabbi Finkelstein, who also runs a social work practice.
“Every person we met, whether it was soldiers who lost limbs, or a bereaved mother who lost a son in battle, had this overall sense that they have a mission that is greater than themselves. The entire country just seems focused on what has to happen — whether it was a soldier guarding the border in East Jerusalem saying that he has to be there to defend everyone, or a family from Sderot who chooses to return to live there so the rest of the country will be safe, every life decision that these people are making is with a sense of purpose. The people who went through trauma aren't allowing themselves to be overwhelmed with grief, and their courage pushed us to follow the tone they set.”
The contingent also brought 300 thermal shirts and protein bars for soldiers, as well as toys and games to distribute at the hotels, which they purchased with funds collected from TABC tzedakah drives.
Now back in the states, the boys are processing what they experienced with teachers and peers. Some have spoken about the mission in their respective classes and all will be sharing stories at a school-wide assembly.
“The most important lesson I took home from the trip,” says Aron Major, “Is that no matter what type of background you have, as Jews we always come together during tragedies, and at the end of the day, we're stronger together.”
The teens, and all of the TABC community, remain committed to aiding Israel moving forward.
“These eight students are now charged with continuing letter-writing campaigns and initiating new tzedakah drives — whatever really needs to be done and whatever we can do from here,” says Rabbi Finkelstein. “They are creating a plan to start work on different projects.”
Reflecting on the mission, Rabbi Katz says it was highly successful.
“It was the most moving experience for these students,” he says. “The kids believe that their entire lives have been changed. They were wowed by every aspect. As difficult as many parts were, the boys stepped up to the plate.”
For Rabbi Finkelstein, two particular incidents highlight the teens’ engagement and exemplify the extent to which they rose to the occasion:
“We were at a falafel restaurant in Modiin for lunch. A sign said that chayalim and security forces members eat for free, and the restaurant will match donations of anyone who sponsors a falafel. The boys eagerly pooled as much of their money as they could to support the endeavor.”
Rabbi Ethan Katz and TABC students Dani Needle, Aryeh Eizikovitz, Benny Zelig, Eytan Kirschenbaum, Aron Major, Josh Schneider and Jonah Miller discuss what it means to serve in the IDF
L-R, at a Tzur Hadassah army base: TABC Associate Principal Rabbi Steven Finkelstein, TABC students, chayalim and Director of OU Relief Missions Rabbi Ethan Katz (second from right)
L-R, at Tzur Hadassah army base: TABC students Aryeh Eizikovitz and Yonatan Brothman, and Rabbi Steven Finkelstein make a barbecue in celebration of a couple’s Sheva Brachot
L-R at Neve Ilan: Yonatan Brothman, Aryeh Eizikovitz, Jonah Miller, Dani Needle, Eytan Kirschenbaum, Aron Major, Josh Schneider and Benny Zelig ran a carnival for evacuees from Sderot