A TIME FOR MIRACLES

I need a miracle every day. Truly. The Hebrew month of Kislev is the month of Chanukah and the month of miracles. My dear husband John had predicted that by the first day of Chanukah we’d start to see a few one by one gradually getting bigger. He wasn’t wrong-

Let me give you the story from Sgt. Hezzi. The battalions were camped out in N Gaza last week. The tanks had formed a huge outer ring. Between the tank ring and the inner ring were huge mounds of dirt to form embankments of protection. Inside the ring were large (exceptionally large) tents set up… like event tents, not little pup tents. These houses all the soldiers. Their cots. Their mess hall. Their synagogue. Their triage tent. It was a big deal.

The IDF intelligence intercepted a Hamas video of a periscoped small camera coming out of a small hole in the ground. The camera was EXACTLY in the middle of the tent ring and Hamas were filming the soldiers inside their tents and people walking around.

The alert was given for the tanks to move southwest and at dusk for the troops to pick up belongings – all arms, etc – and very quietly evacuate. That night terrorists came out of a hole in the ground spraying the tents with machine gun fire for minutes. After the machine gun fire came the grenades and RPGs, setting the tents aflame. But there was no one in them.

Then something went horribly wrong. One of the RPGs misfired back into the tunnel exposing a whole network of tunnels directly underneath where the IDF encampment had stood. There was not a single casualty. But that’s not the end of the story.

The IDF soldiers were now surrounding the partially demolished tunnel system when one by one Hamas terrorists began to emerge with their hands up. In their underwear. Out they marched. Over 80 in all. Bringing caches of rifles and other arms. They completely surrendered without a shot being fired.

This happened several times over the past three days. Now. A word of warning. Photos are being spread of the terrorists lines up by the scores in their briefs. There has been misinformation that the IDF is lining them up to be blindfolded and shot. To humiliate them. To torture them. This is untrue. They are being loaded into trucks and each will be thoroughly interrogated. Each will stand trial and if convicted, be imprisoned.

Red Cross this morning demanded access to the prisoners to ensure they were being fed and not mistreated as well as had full access to the outdoors at least three hours per day, showers and medical attention. They still have refused to check on the Israeli men and women, some quite elderly, still in captivity-

Anyway the above was a double miracle on the first day of the festival of light. On Friday morning thousands of people were gathered in front of the Canadian Parliament buildings. It was a rally in support of Israel. It was a peaceful rally with speakers and musicians all who came out to show their solidarity with Israel.

Just to be clear. I’m not superstitious and I do not look to the heavens for “signs” as my faith is firmly rooted in the L-rd. So no comments on this one or how frills and trappings of the holidays are not signs of piety. The lights, the celebrations are outward displays of internal faith that enrich our lives with beauty and meaning.

That said, as the people in Canada peacefully gathered the snow began to fall. Gentle flakes witnessed by many. They were all shaped like Stars of David!!! How beautiful!

On October 7, Yarden, her husband, Alon and their three year old daughter, Geffen were forced into a car by Hamas terrorists. As the car raced toward Gaza, they took their chance and tumbled out of the car. Yarden was holding their child. As they ran for their lives, Yarden handed Geffen to her husband, knowing he could run faster. The terrorists chased them firing their weapons. They ran in different directions, Yarden running behind a tree to direct the fire towards her. Alon and Geffen hid under the brush evading Hamas for over 12 hours until they were rescued. Yarden was wounded and taken into Gaza. Last week, Yarden was released last week and the family reunited. It was an act of utmost heroism on Yarden’s part and a miracle they all survived. Thank you, G-d.

The troops are making incredible progress in clearing Gaza of evil. Huge stashes of weapons have been found in schools, hospitals, mosques and homes. Underground tunnels have been discovered and destroyed. We were told to expect a high casualty rate, higher than in all the other wars put together. We were told of booby traps and mines everywhere. Miraculously since the start of the war only 97 soldiers have been killed. I do not wish to minimize their loss. Each life taken is precious. It’s just amazing that this few number has been totaled.

The IDF have set up synagogues and Chanukah menorahs in Gaza. Their faith in G-d – actually the entire country’s faith – is at an all time high. Everyone, even the most secular are lighting their chanukiyyas and keeping Shabbat. People are still praying round the clock.

A man went to pick through the rubble of his mother’s house In Kibbutz Be’eri, the kibbutz that was most heavily damaged by Hamas on that horrible Shabbat two months ago. Tzvi Cohen’s mother is 92. She came to Israel from the Ukraine just before the Holocaust started. She had lost most of her family in Europe.

Tzvi found his mother’s home completely firebombed and destroyed. Thankfully she was celebrating Simchat Torah with her grandchildren in Beersheva that day. Tzvi tirelessly sifted through the rubble looking for anything of meaning. He was just about to give up when he saw something glimmering under a cinder block. It was his mother’s silver Shabbat candlesticks from the Old Country and next to it, albeit mangled, the family’s Chanukah menorah.

Another miracle:

These are beautiful reminders of G-do’s love, mercy and protection. Bad things happen. Evil is all around us, but at this darkest time of the year, if you light Chanukah lights or Advent candles, let them be a singe to you. Look to the light!

We were on the way to the hospital again the other day. This time in Tel Aviv. As we had just gotten to the parking structure there was another huge barrage of missiles- yes. They are still firing at us daily and I bet it doesn’t get picked up in the news.

Thankfully Iron Dome intercepted many. There was a report of infrastructure damage in Central Israel. Several people were lightly injured by falling shrapnel. I am due to go into surgery in about an hour. I pray that there are no red alerts while the doctors are operating and that all goes well. My writing has been sporadic as of late due to constant trips to Tel Aviv. As soon as I am able I shall write another blogpost. Until then, have a beautiful Season of Light and expect miracles!!!!