This story gave you strength at the beginning of the war, and now again. Families are telling me now that they're reading it in bomb shelters. So here's the story that Yael Binenfeld from the city of Lod wrote to me. It seems we are advancing, with God's help, toward the happy ending of the story. Feel free to share with anyone who might be strengthened by it:
"A few days ago, a siren was heard in the city of Lod while the children were at school," writes Yael. "One of my children called me crying, said he was scared and asked me to come pick him up.
I tried every tool I know to help him from a distance: empathy, reflection, containing the event, practicing breathing exercises and more... but nothing helped.
Then, in a last resort, I said the following words to him: 'You are part of the people of Israel, and the people of Israel are full of courage, so you too are full of courage. What exists in the people of Israel throughout all generations also exists in you. Abraham our father, King David, the Maccabees, all of them - all of them are within you.' And I concluded with a quote: 'Behold, a people rises like a lioness and lifts itself like a lion.' We are a people of lions, who know how to rise from crises, overcome and triumph.
And suddenly, out of nowhere, so easily, he simply said to me: 'Okay mom, I'm going back to class,' and hung up.
This story is not just about a little child, but about all of us. Our people thirst for greatness. They draw strength and spiritual fortitude from their mighty roots. The great spiritual qualities that existed in the fathers and mothers of the nation, and from their strength - in all generations, exist in every person of Israel and pass through all our DNA.
This people understands that even if there are delays, even if the road is long, the people of Israel live. This gives us strength".
