Yesterday afternoon I went to the shivah house, the house of mourning for the family of Ido Aviv. He had fallen in Gaza as a result of friendly fire. Of course, the home was packed with people sitting on the large, tiled patio and inside the home in the living room and the dining area. There were soldiers, young people older folk, Orthodox and secular Jewish people, Christians and Druze.
In the entrance to their home was a huge sail from a surfboard. It was Ido’s. He loved the water and was not only an avid sailer, windsurfer and surfboarder, but a surf instructor. The sail had a huge Magen David…the Israeli flag emblazoned upon it. All of his army buddies and his friends signed the sail. Notes that said how much they’d miss him, how much they love him. “Sail into the horizon, my good friend…” the words of a beautiful Hebrew song. And of course, on an easel, photographs of the fallen soldier.
I waited to speak to Emmi, Ido’s mother. I gave her a huge hug, held her tight, and we both cried together. I had known her as an acquaintance and daughter-in law of a woman in the English Speakers Club and charitable group we were in together. I can’t begin to imagine the pain. I sat down and spoke for quite some time to the father of Ido’s fiancée. Oh my G-d. How incredibly sad. They had grown up together, knowing each other since they were three. Her father told me the Aviv’s were their best friends and Ido was like a son to him. And he said, “Ido was loved by everybody. Just look around at all his friends here. They have been here for three days and just keep pouring in. Can you believe a 28 year old could have spread so much happiness? His heart was always for the other person and what he could do for them.”
Dear faithful readers, whether you leave comments on this particular blog or not; whether you leave me emails or personal messages or not. I am calling upon you right now. Please. We, as Israelis are in a fight not only to keep the enemies that surround us at bay, but in a true fight against terrorists and proxies of terrorists. Many of us feel we are alone in this fight. All the nations seem to be lining up again us. Even the United States. All we see is news of riots, arrest warrants for our administration and cries of genocide, atrocities committed and apartheid…all untrue.
So please. A simple favor. Will you please send me either in the comment section below or any way that you can – your love and thanks and support for this grieving family. I will deliver them in just ten days, our Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers. I just know it would mean so much to this family to know they do not stand alone.
I thank you in advance. The parents’ names are Mark and Emmi. They speak English (Mark is from the former South African country of Rhodesia). The Aviv’s have other younger adult sons, but I do not know their names-
May we all have a peaceful and joyous Shabbat and weekend,
Tamar
Israel Dreams 
Our love and prayers for him, his extended family and friends, you all and for justice and peace for Israel. Cari & David
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Thank you so much for this. I’m sure it will be of comfort to the Aviv family. Thanks, also for reading, Cari.
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Dearest Tamar,
You all are in my thoughts and prayers. I even bought a Menorah so I would keep you all in my thoughts and prayers as I start my day (kitchen window)
I can’t even imagine
Maryellen
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Oh my gosh, Maryellen!!! This is so touching!!! I have no words…sending much gratitude, love, and prayers to you and your family- thank you!!!!
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Dear Mark and Emmi,
I sat for a few minutes at a loss of what to even say in such a time as this, and felt led to open my bible. Perhaps I could share a verse with you that might offer some comfort…
I opened to this verse from the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 57:1-2 ESV
[1] The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; [2] he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
As we mourn the Fallen remembering their lives, their love, their courage, throughout the scriptures, through our tears in our deep spirits ache and groans, we are gently encouraged, not to turn away from the mourning which is necessary and right, but through the suffering and the pain to look not downward but upward to the One who is very honest and truthful about the Brokenness and suffering of man who is in such need of G-d’s salvation.
All throughout the Holy Word, starting with Genesis and continuing through all the writings, the One who spoke and created the stars and the world with the word of his mouth, the One who formed your beloved son in his mother’s womb, He is close to us when we mourn and He is with you now in this moment and time.
Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV
[1] The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; [2] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
[3] to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
As surely as the promise that G-d gave to the Israelites thousands of years ago that they would return to their Homeland is now seen before our eyes, so the other promises G-d has made he will fulfill.
So in our time of deep sorrow and suffering, let us look up to Him – not downward towards man’s depravity, not inward to ourselves for a salvation we can not give, nor outward to this fallen world for hope, but upward to the one who has never lied but has spoken honestly about the suffering, the depravity, the pain of this world. The One who has spoken truthfully of His salvation and a day to come when the wolf will lie down with the lamb and no harm will be seen on His holy hill. Let us not resist His love, but receive the Comfort He gives, not ignoring our pain or denying it, not putting aside the mourning and deep missing for the time that it is needed, but surrender to His love and comforting arms, setting aside the temporary pleasures of this world to seek the One who provides Eternal Joy.
May we draw to Him for salvation, trusting in Him alone, not the arm of man, not looking to Egypt and horses for salvation, but trusting the One whose words spoken so long ago is now fulfilled proving that in the midst of human suffering, (the earth He has given to the children of men, but He yet is able to save and deliver eternally all who come to Him for refuge) in the midst of all of this mess there is a promise of peace, hope and joy to come.
The L-rd saves.
May He comfort your hearts and grant you peace.
***********
I know there is a need and a desire for Words assuring Israel that the United States and various Western countries will stand by beside her. I can tell you many are praying for Israel and many support Israel in their efforts to do what is right, but wisdom and justice equally see our own wrongs as well as the wrongs of others. May G-d grant wisdom to our leaders, that we not be ashamed before Him when we see Him.
I can also tell you from experience of humanity that if we put our trust in governments and we put our trust in human wisdom and flesh, we are guaranteed disappointment. I do not think anything has changed in that regard over the past 5,000 or so years. I would urge Israel to do what she can to gain support, to have a listening heart and not only be concerned with her own well-being but with the well-being of others (as she has done, may she continue to faithfully do.) May we be as honest with our own faults as with the faults of others and may she passionately seek her salvation and protection from the One who through thousands of years has kept His word and brought her children back. He is not slow. Five or six thousands years in light of eternity is not that long. He makes all things beautiful in it’s time.
💞😪😪Mourning with you and with all who have lost loved ones in this war. May G-d grant you peace.
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Thank you again, for your readership and your profound message. I will be giving your letter to the Aviv family (along with all the other notes I receive) next week on our Memorial Day. I hope it will bring them some sort of solace to know they are not alone.
We pray for ALL the innocent victims of this war, for those who fight evil in prayer and deed, and for Light and Truth to prevail. Again, thank you.
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💞💞🙏🙏
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First we want to express our gratitude to Ido and all the IDF who are fighting the battles of Jews all over the world and paying the ultimate price.
Our hearts and our love go out to you, Emmi and Mark. You are experiencing what no parent should experience. It is impossible to walk in your shoes at this moment. But we want you to know that you are not alone – most of the Jews in the world are with you. Many Christians are with you as well. We pray for Israel’s victory and we are actively trying to advocate for Israel everywhere we go and in everything we do. We are not afraid of antisemitism – on the contrary, we wear our Judaism proudly on our necks, with flags in front of our houses and signs proclaiming our solidarity with Israel. Our grandchildren, who are taking the brunt of antisemitism are marching peacefully against the terrorists on campuses all over America in unity and solidarity with all of you.
Please know that your son is a great hero and you are heroes standing up for the Jewish people and our land of Israel.
May you be comforted by your many precious memories of Ido.
Mike and Dalya Horowitz
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Oh my goodness, Daly’s & Mike. This message is incredible. I’m really hoping your message, and those of others will give tremendous strength and comfort to the Aviv’s. They are a really kindhearted, peaceful family, but like much of Israel, they were especially feeling alone…. To know that Ido did not give his life in vain- your support is totally appreciated. Thank you again and much love to you-
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLOG!
you all are in our prayers. We are speaking out, our measured tones are being shouted down by the Hmss narrative. It is despicable.
I wish my father had shared his experience in Austria in 1930s. He lost family at Auschwitz.
These uprisings are the history of that time. To not understand the history of Israel. To say that it ceased to exist when they didn’t accept J-sus. this is the pure definition of hate speak. We are angry with this baloney.
HUGS TO ALL OF YOU. Be assured of our prayers.
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Claudia, shalom, and thank you for being a subscriber. It does feel like we are living back in the 1930s again and that history is repeating itself.
It seems antisemitism is rearing its head under the guise of anitzionism, only at this point it’s global, not just European.
I really feel that the world is truly in a fight of good vs. evil. On every facet, every topic. It’s long been a time to choose sides, to search for the Truth, no matter how hard you have to look (it seems to have been quite thoroughly buried at times). We pray that eyes are opened to choose good, life, beauty, truth, and G-d…. again thank you for your support. We’re feeling kinda lonely about now. Keep standing up and speaking Truth!
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Mike and Emmi,
May He hold you close and give you comfort.
Maureen, California
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Thank you so much. I shall presenting all my collected notes to the Aviv’s next week. They are surely needing comfort at this time-
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to the Aviv family,
I live in Pittsburgh, PA. There is a Yom Haatzmaut celebration coming up. I was feeling nervous about going, but now I will go. I will march in honor of Idan. Please reach out if you need anything.
Rachel
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Rachel, shalom. Wow….wow…. You are amazing. This note is so incredibly strong. For them to know that the loss loss of their son was not in vain- not just for Israel, but for those in the Diaspora!!! Wow!! Thank you for your readership. Am Yisrael chai!
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Dear Mark and Emmi,
So very sorry for your tremendous loss of such an amazing son, Ido! What a beautiful and large life he had, I’m sure you still will feel his presence.
May you be held close by Him who knows your sorrow and pain. I pray for all of you and may peace return to Israel, soon. Don’t give up, we love, pray and support you.
Yolanda from California
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Thank you so much, Yolanda. I’m sure they will find some comfort in knowing that others all the way around the world are caring and supporting both them and Israel. I’m presenting the messages to the family next week. Thank you again! Much love…
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Shalom, Yolanda. Thank you for these words. I’m sure it will help the Aviv family to know that people around the world are standing in support and prayer with and for them. I’ll be presenting the messages to them next week on Remembrance Day of all the Fallen. Much gratitude and love to you-
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The mitzva of removing Av tumah avoda zarah from within our hearts. Avoda zarah defined through the Book of Esther as assimilation and intermarriage with Goyim. Prior to Pesach the Torah commands the removal of all חמץ. The משל of חמץ teaches the נמשל of אב טומא עבודה זרה. Hence post Pesach the mitzva of counting the Omer likewise pronounces the שם מ”ב, Forty-two letter Divine Name with the k’vanna to remove avoda zarah from bnei brit hearts prior to accepting the revelation of the Torah on Sinai which the Chag of Shevuoth sanctifies as an eternal mitzva dedicated through the Divine Name of the bnai brit soul of האל.
According to the Yerushalmi Talmud over 247 prophets occupied in writing the Shemone Esrei tefillah. Herein serves as the basis of all Jewish kabbalah.
A huge black hole: all discussion on the Siddur which fails to address the simple fact that the Siddur together with the Book of בראשית addresses the Av/toldot relationship between time-oriented commandments to their toldot positive and negative commandments in the other four Books of the Written Torah.
Removal of the sciatic nerve, one of the few Commandments together with fruitful and multiply and circumcision in the Book of בראשית the Av Book to the toldot other 4 Books of the Torah! The tefillah on the Yom Tov and Shabbat “remembers”.
Remembers what? The oaths sworn by the Avot, the k’vanna of kre’a shma which links the 3 Divine Names in the opening p’suk of this tefillah דאורייתא to אלהי אברהם וכו in the adjacent Shemone Esrei דרבנן.
What oaths did the Avot swear when they cut a oath brit with HaShem? HaShem swore oaths to the Avot (future born seed plus the inheritance of the land to this future born [עולם הבא] chosen Cohen nation seed). What sworn oaths did the Avot swear in their brit alliance with HaShem? The Baali Tosafot teach אלהי אברהם as a reference to מלכות. This משל term מלכות interpreted to mean the dedication of tohor middot. Hence 13 middle blessing affixed to the revelation of the 13 tohor middot ‘ה’ ה’ אל רחום וחנון וכו.
Tefillah stands in the stead of korbanot. Korbanot NOT a barbeque unto Heaven. But an action of swearing a Torah oath (which requires שם ומלכות) “dedicated” as Holy to HaShem. As the 13 Middle Blessings stand distinct from one another a person should possess the wisdom which discerns the distinctions which separate the definition of one tohor midda from the other tohor middot the one from the others.
This ability/wisdom to discern like from like defines the concept of k’vanna — which all time oriented commandments require. This basis of Torah faith qualifies as the meaning to the term “Fear of Heaven”. All time oriented commandments stand upon this יסוד kabbalah of faith.
Removal of the sciatic nerve remembers the crisis, comparable to the Akadah of Yitzak, of Yaacov’s encounter with his brother Esau. Targum Uziel says that Esau approach Yaacov with an Army led by 400 Officers! In short Yaacov toast, just like the life of Yitzak at the Akedah!
Removal of the sciatic nerve: a tohor time-oriented commandment. The Book of בראשית opens with בראשית followed by נח. Tohor time-oriented commandments express Moshe Rabbeinu’s life & death, therefore choose life commandment. בראשית, contained in the first תמיד מעשה בראשית of the opening ברכה של קריא שמע. And נח, the death of all living, contained in the second תמיד מעשה בראשית at the closing of this opening blessing of kre’a shma.
Tohor time-oriented commandments emanate the power to Create the world or destroy the world יש מאין. Torah oaths created from nothing זה וזה. The B’hag ruled that rabbinic commandments 100 blessings, nir shabbat, nir hannukah, reading m’gilah esther, etc. as mitzvot from the Torah. All these rabbinic commandments, according to Rambam in his introduction to Sefer Ha’Mitzvot, tohor time-oriented commandments. The B’had in essence held that just as the תרי”ג commandments existed as toldot of tohor time-oriented Avot commandments as located in the Av Book of בראשית, all rabbinic halachot within the Talmud, if sanctified as time-oriented commandments qualify as commandments from the Torah itself!
Time-oriented commandments require כוונה. Understood as the dedication of tohor middot reveal to Moshe at Horev and explained by the kabbalah of rabbi Akiva’s פרדס understanding of the כוונה of the Oral Torah revelation at Horev — 40 days after the Sin of the Golden Calf avoda zarah which violates the 2nd Sinai commandments throughout the generations till today. How many times does the bible or koran bring the revelation of the שם השם? Doing mitzvot לשמה separates Jews in Israel from Jews in g’lut. The RambaN teaches in his Chumash commentary that doing mitzvot in g’lut only a “remembrance” to doing mitzvot לשמה in ארץ ישראל – the oath sworn lands for the chosen Cohen nation.
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Mosckerr. Shalom. At times, your replies to my blogs…I’m in full agreement with. I don’t know if you are in Eretz Yisroel or in Galus, but at this time, I and the nation are in need of major support and comfort, not diatribes and lectures.
I have gone to eight funerals of lives cut short defending our people…eight sons, fathers, brothers, friends… in six months.
We are doing tehillim, tfilot, mitzvot, ahavat chinam, and everything we know to do to get through this and on to victory. We are fully relying on HaShem.
We are broken, we are mourning, we are surrounded on every side by those that want us dead. We have been betrayed by those who we thought were friends. For those of us up here b’tsafon, we have 150,000 Hizbulla missiles aimed at our heads. Are they imminent? G-d forbid! But he will protect us.
I asked for my readers to send words of hope. Words of comfort. Words of support to this grieving hiloni family. Words 5at would be of help to them.
Please, if you have nothing nice to say, refrain from the shouting that most of the people reading my comment section would find esoteric, elitist and arcane at best.
We are trying. We
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Howdy twdunbar2015 am Israeli made aliya from Texas back in 1991 just prior to the Bush/Iraq Scud war. Have family fighting in Gaza, a nephew killed in action. The Torah defines avoda zara expressed through the mitzva to remember Amelek through the megillah of Esther. Avoda zarah understood as Jewish assimilation and intermarriage with Goyim. King Shlomo another example/precedent which serves to interpret Jewish common law.
During the Dreyfus Affair and the Russian pogroms of the 1880s, arose Hertzl’s political zionism. Whoooop! Within 50 year Hertzl’s political zionism accomplished what the Reshonim and later Talmudic scholars failed to achieve – Israel raise from out of stateless refugee status to become an Independent nation! (You, by the way, look very pretting in your photo pic.)
As ancient Chinese had theories of warfare עיין the Art of War … so too does the Torah, עיין the story of Bil’am & Midian. War comes as either a Torah blessing or curse. Moshe said: I give you Life & Death, therefore choose Life. The Torah has 3 basic divisions: בראשית introduces the Av/toldot relationship of tohor time oriented commandments (which learn from women. NaCH examples: the שפטים story of D’vorah, Karen, my wife’s first born daughter from her first husband named after her; and Hadassah, my first-born and only child named after her, as located in the precedent Book of Megillah Esther.
The next three Torah Books שמות, ויקרא, ובמדבר, teach the toldot commandments. Mesechta Shabbat and Baba Kama ask the famous question do the toldot follow the Avot. The B’HaG argues in הלכות גדולות that IF the מצוות in these 3 Books of the Written Torah exist as toldot of the Avot tohor time oriented commandments, THEN it the halachot within the Talmud too become mitzvot from the Torah when a person transforms them through k’vanna unto tohor time oriented commandments! Its a huge chiddush which the Rambam in his introduction to his code of statute law halachot clearly did not understand.
Its the 15th day of the Omer, a tohor time oriented commandment. Now what does this have to do with the Gaza/Hamas war?
Pay attention: and behold me pulling a rabbit out of the hat. LOL. Notice that Parshat בראשית ונח stands separate and apart from the rest of the Parshaot in the Book of בראשית? To do tohor time oriented commandments – they require כוונה. Toldot positive and negative commandments &/OR Talmudic halachot do not require כוונה. The Torah “Art of War” … tohor time oriented commandments require the כוונה of swearing a Torah oath, which requires שם ומלכות. Translations suck, they do not define the כוונה of abstract terms. Specifically שם ומלכות.
But Torah scholars who understand the kabbalah of שבעות” על ידי שם ומלכות” which mean both oaths and weeks, (counting the Omer includes both counting the days and the weeks) these same Torah scholars interpret the repetition of תמיד מעשה בראשית located in the first blessing of the time oriented commandment of tefillah דאורייתא of קריא שמע as the Creation of יש מאין of either blessings or curses; through the time oriented commandment HaShem Created the Universe יש מאין by swearing a Torah oath time oriented commandment (בראשית\ברית אש. The fire of the brit – Torah oaths). The next Parsha of נח, HaShem Created death יש מאין by swearing a Torah oath time oriented commandment. Hence Moshe Rabbeinu said the day his life passed from this world: I give you life and death.
Doing tohor time oriented commandments bring the curses of death upon our enemies like as happed to Par’o with the 10 plagues and the splitting of the Sea of Reeds.
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Dear Emmi and and Mark,
With sadness for your beautiful kind hearted son and his passing. Thank you for raising a son willing to defend the state of Israel and in that vein, for the Jews in the diaspora.
My parents lived through the Shoah, and made a life in the US, But still connected to family in Israel. Israel was the anchor. As a Jew it is our lifeline. Ido stepped up to the call.
In Ido’s honor a donation has been made to a charity benefitting IDF soldiers. May he float among the waves
Miriam Rosenthal
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Oh my goodness, Miriam. I’m so touched. Thank you for your beautiful note. I will be presenting them to the Avivs… a most beautiful and peaceful family… next week. You’ve given me a great idea for them, too. Much love to you-
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Dear Mark and Emmi
Please accept my sincere condolences at the loss of your beloved son Ido Aviv. I cannot imagine what you must be feeling. I pray for G-d to console you in every way possible.
I stand with Israel in the fight against the evil of Hamas and against all those whose goal is the destruction of Israel.. And I pray every single day for G-d’s protection upon the Israeli people.
With love and thanks for all your son has done for Israel. Helen Sullivan Sent from Gmail Mobile
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Thank you so much, Helen. I know the family will be comforted by such words of support. It’s really a tough time for this country.
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