"Man's Search for Meaning" is the name of the wonderful work written by Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. He explained how much the divine image within humans, their soul, the meaning in their lives – gives them strength to face challenges. It seems that these days a new book is being written: "The Jew Seeks Meaning" or perhaps: "Man Seeks Judaism".
These days, Viktor Frankls are returning from Gaza. Well, they don't write books, they post stories and social media updates.
This week I started collecting these modern legends.
For example: Eliya Cohen who offered to swap places with another hostage ("When they informed him about his release, Eliya offered to switch with one of his friends who was physically and mentally weaker than him and remain captive in his place. The terrorists refused," his father said), or Omer Shem Tov who observed Shabbat in Gaza ("He only had a flashlight, and he made sure not to turn it on during Shabbat, to symbolize and honor the Sabbath," his mother Shelly recounted). And of course – the story of Agam Berger which has already become known worldwide (The Wall Street Journal recently published an article by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik explaining to the American public the significance of her Shabbat observance in Gaza).
Shai Graucher became known during the war for his gifts and assistance to the bereaved families, the wounded, and hostages.
Recently, he's been observing an interesting phenomenon: he brings an iPad - they ask for tefillin. He brings a cell phone - they ask for Shabbat candlesticks. This week it happened with hostage Ohad Ben Ami from Kibbutz Be'eri. Ohad asked for tefillin, and then on Monday, asked to do Havdalah. Havdalah is performed on Saturday night, but Ohad explains that he became more religious in Gaza. In videos that were posted, he speaks powerfully about faith, about God, and also about the Havdalah that hostages did, which gave him strength in captivity, and then he simply asks to be taught how to perform Havdalah on Monday and finishes by singing "Am Yisrael Chai"
And here's another true legend: Keith Siegel shared in a video this week that he tried to say a blessing over everything he ate in Gaza, but didn't know how to make the blessings. He simply said "bore minei mezonot" (Who creates various kinds of food) over every food. When he returned home, his family asked what special food to prepare for Friday night, for their first meal together. Keith said: "No need for special food, first of all I want a kippah and Kiddush."
His wife Aviva who was released in the first deal recounts in another viral video, with tears: "The kidnappers asked me to pray with them. I said to myself: I will not pray to Allah. I pretended with my lips, but didn't actually pray with them. I am so proud of myself for that."
This is a very partial list, but already we can see: something is happening here. Everyone is invited to think about what it means.
Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom.
