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Mailbag: A Letter from a Soldier In Gaza
Today our hearts are pounding in fear. Who of us will die? And who will return safely?
We are your messengers in fighting . We are fighting so you can live peacefully with your children. So you can stay alive. We are your protection. Will you be ours? We are going to this dangerous mission knowing some of us will not come back, but will rise to their next position in a storm to heaven, as Eliyahu the Navi did.
We are going with devotion and dedication. We are asking you to be our protection with your prayers. Protect us by going above and beyond yourselves through Ruchniyus and good deeds. Pray for us. Pray that you won’t see another mother burying her son. Pray that you won’t see our wives as widows raise our children in tears. Pray that our children will grow up knowing who their fathers are. Pray that we will eliminate the terrorists who aim to destroy us, and that we will not injure innocent women and children.
Please, we are begging you, as you are reading this, don’t just go on to the next thing you are doing. Say a chapter of Tehillim. Wake up David HaMelech to ask Hashem for full Geulah and peace for the all world. Take upon yourselves another good deed. And please pass this on. I’m certain that your prayer will make a difference. Remember, we are in it together. We are on the front lines carrying the weapons and you are fighting along with us in your prayers. Each word of your prayer gives us strength, protection and success!!!!!!
- Soldier in Gaza
The Shmira Project http://www.shmiraproject.com/en-us/home.aspx is an ongoing, grassroots program that pairs IDF combat soldiers with Jews around the world who do acts of kindness, prayer or Torah learning to increase the soldier's spiritual merit and protection. Hebrew word "shmira" (pronounced shmeerah) means "guarding" or "protecting". In modern Hebrew, shmira also means guard duty.
In USA: For a soldier's name through our automated system, text 240-393-4836. The Shmira Project is a person to person match that everyone can do. It follows the ancient practice of pairing physical effort with spiritual effort. The families of soldiers and the soldiers themselves enjoy the reassurance of spiritual support. Participants enjoy knowing that they bring about unity and connectedness. There are absolutely no fees.
This project originated with Rav Simcha HaCohen Kook, Chief Rabbi Rechovot & The Hurva Synagogue with the Bostoner Rebbe, zt"l in 2009 during the Gaza Operation Cast Lead. It has the support of people across the world and across all denominations. It's being organized in its present format by the mother of a former IDF paratrooper. Rabbinical Endorsements - הסכמות (HaRav Simcha HaCohen Kook, Chief Rabbi Rechovot, the Bostoner Rebbe zt"l, Rav Aharon Feldman, Rosh Yeshiva Ner Yisroel, Baltimore)
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is The Shmira Project about?
It's about supporting and protecting each other.
For example, if a 15 year old girl in Los Angeles does one act of kindness on behalf of a soldier she does not know, thousands of miles away, she increases our interconnectedness and unity. Think of our interconnectedness as a web of protection: each person to person connection makes one strand of the web. If the 15 year old girl can make more threads in the web, or make the web stronger, she will have accomplished something amazing. Think of it as a "spiritual Iron Dome".
How does it work?
The participants sign up via the website – or text - to receive the name of the soldier. The soldier signs up with only his/her first name and mother's name (preferably Hebrew, if known), and end date of service. He is automatically paired with a person or family for the length of army service. The soldier receives the name and hometown of the person or family who is doing good deeds in his/her merit. To protect privacy, no personal contact information is shared.
What kind of act of kindness or spiritual deeds should I do?
The activities can be simple and creative. They should suit your style of life to keep you motivated.
Here are some examples pulled from our website replies: giving charity, include soldier in prayer at Shabbat candlelighting, volunteer for the homeless once a month, reading Jewish stories to kids when I babysit, Shabbat hospitality, say tehillim (psalms), make soup for needy people, learning Torah – mishnayot, visit grandma.
How frequently do I need to do my act of kindness or mitzvah?
However often you'd like. Some activities are daily, weekly or one time occurrences. If you can include the shmira (good deed) activity in your normal routine, you can extend yourself for a longer time without stress.
How long do I need to do my act of kindness or mitzvah (prayer, etc.)?
Ideally, when "your" soldier is finished with his/her active service, you are finished with your shmira (good deeds). You can be reassigned to another soldier or you can retire! If you can't complete the time frame of the soldier's service, let us know and we will reassign him/her.
Many people will sign on in times of war or crisis; fewer in times of "calm". Our goal is to have every combat / patrol soldier covered at least once.
Why can't we exchange the full names and contact info of the people involved?
While it would be wonderful to establish positive contact between the soldier and participant, there are boundaries of security and personal privacy that need to be maintained.
Who is participating?
Everyone can understand the importance of rallying behind those who are putting themselves in danger to protect us. We all can express our gratitude.
As Rav Ovadiah Yosef (the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel) said on Yom Hazikaron (Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers) 2012, "G-d should bless the IDF soldiers who stand guard on our behalf. Without them, Israelis could not carry on their lives. Much less perform acts of kindness or study Torah…G-d should protect them and keep them well, as it is He who is fighting against our enemies."
Can non-Jews participate?
We welcome everyone's efforts in helping our soldiers.
How did this program get started?
The original Elef LaMate IDF prayer matching program was started by Rav Simcha HaCohen Kook in 2006 in response to the Lebanon War. The Rav then joined with the Bostoner Rebbe, zt'l, in 2009 for the Gaza Operation, Cast Lead. It has been continued in its present state to include the efforts of a mother of a chayal boded soldier in the paratroopers. There is presently an international team, with a nucleus in Baltimore, Maryland, who is working on this project. (A "Chayal boded" – or lone soldier- is a term used for a soldier who has no immediate family in Israel. Usually these are young men and women from abroad who serve in the IDF.)
Are soldiers included who are in the reserve army?
At present, we have decided to focus on active duty soldiers. If, God forbid, there is a conflict where the reserves are called up, the administrators will override the system and reactivate all previous soldier entries. As a participant, you will be kept up-to-date with any changes of this nature.
I am not religiously observant. How can I participate?
Focus on doing acts of kindness: give charity, feed someone, or give someone encouragement. These are spiritual deeds at their core. Also, simply remember that this program recognizes and demonstrates our gratitude. Gratitude is universally appreciated.
Is there any other precedent to this in terms of helping to protect Jewish soldiers?
The earliest precedent for this approach is found in the Bible. When the Israelites were at war with the Nation of Midyan, Moses appointed an equal number of soldiers and Jews to pray on behalf of the soldiers. This is the origin of the Elef LaMate system.
On a spiritual level, "Kol Yisrael avrevim zeh b'zeh" "All Jews are responsible for one another" (Talmud, Shevuot 39A). It is the mystical paradigm that we are intertwined with each other on a very deep level – regardless of how far apart we are physically. An "arev" is a guarantor: we have signed on to be spiritual guarantors for each other.
Why have a match between individual Jews, rather than pray or do good deeds in general?
The matches increase our awareness of individual efforts. Furthermore, when we know the names of those people who are ill, for example, we try our best to indicate the exact name in our prayers. This program follows that example.
How will participants stay motivated in the long term?
Just like for the soldiers, the time of enlistment can feel like a long haul. If you're losing your motivation, do what the IDF does, and rotate your assignment. Change it up.
Vary the mitzvah (act of kindness) that you do. Pick something you wouldn't ordinarily think of doing. Stretch a little. Or, conversely, choose a mitzvah that you do daily and dedicate it to your soldier.
Find a partner. Have a chevruta. Get a group and encourage each other.
Come up with a line that motivates you. "I'm in this together with him for as long as it takes." "He should live and be well." "May she be safe from all harm." "Am Yisrael Chai!" Make it realistic. Do what you can, and do it well.
as of July 21, 2014 12:06pm
PLEASE PRAY FOR: List of names of wounded soldiers (UPDATED!)
Posted by Zev Stub Wednesday, 23 July 2014 11:31 AM
List updated Wed. July 23
אחיה בן נירה
Achiya ben Nira
אביעד בן סימה
Aviad bn Sima
אוהד בן אליס גנון
Ohad bn Elice Ganon
אוהד בן רות
Ohad bn Rut
איתי אהרון בן אילנה
Itai Aharon bn Ilana
אליאל בן אריאלה
Eli'El bn Ariela
אליהו בן חוה
Eliyahu bn Chava
ארד ליאורה
Arad bn Leora
ארז בן שרית
Erez bn Sarit
בן דויד בן אסתר נלי
Ben David Ben Esther Nelly
בן ציון בן רחל
Ben Tzion bn Rachel
גיל בן מיכל
Gil bn Michal
דוד ילחק בן סוזי
David Yitzchak bn Suzi
דולב בן כוכבה
Dolev Ben Kochava
דניאל מנדס בן מרים
Daniel Mandes bn Miriam
Ziv ben Ayelet
יואב בן גילה
Yoav bn Gila
יוני בן שרה
Yoni bn Sara
יונתן שמעון בן גיטל
Yonatan Shimon bn Gittel
יונתן בן חגית אביגיל
Yonatan bn Hagit Avigail
יונתן שמעון בן מסעוד
Yonatan Shimon bn Masud
יעקב בן לאפו
Yakov bn Lepo
ירין בן מור (הנער שנפצע מהרקטה)
Yaron ben Mor
ישי דב בן נרי
Yishai Dov bn Neri
ישי דב הלוי בן נרי
Yishai Dan HaLevi ben Neri
ליאל בן אילנית
Li'El bn Ilanit
מור מרדכי בן שרית
Mor Mordechai bn Sarit
מיכל בן פרידה
Michal bn Frida
מרדכי חי בן ברכה יהודית
Mordechai Chai bn Bracha Yehudis
משה אלעד בן עיתיאל
Moshe Elad bn Iti'El
נריה בן חוה
Nerya bn Chava
Niv ben Ayelet
עובדיה בן רויטל
Ovadya bn Ravit
עמוס בן סיגל
Amos bn Sigal
עמית בן מרים
Amitai ben Miriam
רמי בן רמונד
Rami bn Ramond
רועי בן יהודית
Roie ben Yehudit
רותם בן ארנונה
Rotem ben Arnona
רן בן ציפורה.
Ron Ben Ziporrah
שוהם בן יפה פלורה
Shoham bn Yafa Flora
שקד בן אורה
Shaked bn Ora
גיא בן מגי
Geeh ben Maggie
טל חיים בן תמרה
Tal Chaim Ben Tamara
ארנון בן איריס
Arnon ben Iris
צוריאל אליהו בן שולמית
Tzuriel Eliyahu ben Shlomit
מעוז חיים בן חסיה מלכה
Maoz Chaim ben Chasia Malka
משה בן סיגלית חביב
Moshe ben Siglit Chaviv
אוהד בן רחל
Echud ben Rachel
אורי בן רחל
Ori ben Rachel
יהודה פנחס בן שלמה
Yehuda Pinchas ben Shlemah
דוד בן רחל
David Ben Rachel
בניה בן פנינה
Benya ben Penina
אושיק משה בן שושנה זהרי
Oshik Moshe ben Shoshana Zahari
יוגב בן סימה
Yogev ben Sima
ניצן בן מזל
Nitzn ben Mazal
שי בן אורלי
Shai ben Orly
אברהם נחמן בן אוסנת
Avraham Nachman ben Osnat
יעקב בן אוסנת
Yaakov ben Osnat
דניאל בן נעמי פנינה
Daniel ben Nomi Penina
רון מנחם בן חנה
Ron Menachem ben Chana
נמרוד בן ויקטוריה
Namrod ben Victoria
יונתן מנחם בן שושנה
Yonatan Menachem ben Shoshana
סער בן דבורה
Saar ben Devorah
אור בן דבורה
Ohr ben Devorah
אביחיל אלימלך בן נחמה
AviChayil Elimelech ben Nechama
יאיר שמעון בן נחמה
Yair Shmuel ben Nechama
דני בן מילה
Dani ben Milah
עידן בן בת שבע
Eydan ben Batsheva
אור בן ריקי
Ohr ben Rikki
מאור בן רונית
Maor ben Ronit
מוטי מרדכי בן רונית
Moti Mordecai ben Ronit
עמישב בן אסתר
Amishav ben Esther
ליאור בן ניצנה
Lior ben Nitzna
יאיר בן יעל
Yair ben Yael
ליאור בן רות
Lior ben Rus
טל בן חגית
Tal ben Hagit
יואב בן בלה
Yoav ben Bella
Boaz David ben Frye Tzippora
אליסף חיים בן חיה יהודית Elisaf Chaim ben Chaya Yehudit
מתן בן יעל Matan ben Yael
עמית בן חגית Amit ben Hagit
אייל בן נטע Eyal ben Nitta
אהרן יוסף בן צפורה וורדה Aharon Yosef ben Tziporra Varda
--
Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.
Most of these emails are posted on
Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog.
