Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman attended a circumcision ceremony of the Weiss Family at Sha’arei Yerushalayim Hotel, where they were evacuated by Migdal Ohr together with hundreds of other families. The Rabbi visited the evacuated families, including the Weiss Family, who had been moved from Naveh settlement who were holding a circumcision ceremony for their son. The Rabbi held the baby and blessed him with blessing of accepting the yoke of Heaven, ending with the Shema Yisrael prayer and a prayer for better days to come. Among the other participants were former Education Minister, Brigadier General (Res.) Rabbi Rafi Peretz, who is the Rabbi of their settlement and was evacuated together with the other residents.
Following the Simchat Torah massacre, 2,000 residents of the Gaza Envelope were evacuated by the Migdal Ohr Organization to the Sha’arei Yerushalayim and Shalom Hotels in Jerusalem.
“These are very difficult days a very difficult period for the Jewish People,” said Ziv, the father of the family, who was leaving for reserve duty in the 98th Division. “We are haunted by the visions and atrocities that we have witnessed. Amidst all this darkness, the brit (circumcision) of our son is a small source of happiness for us, and proof that no one can really destroy the Jewish people – life must go on and we will return to settling the land. Currently, I am in reserve duty in order to protect the Jewish people.” Another evacuee said: “We were very moved by the quick assistance by Rabbi Grossman and his teams. The Rabbi sat with each of us, listened to the atrocities that we experienced and promised us that we are not alone and that the Jewish People will unite during these difficult days.”
Rabbi Grossman noted that “we came to strengthen the families, and we tried to do everything we could to help them get through these day, together and in the best possible manner”.
