At the beginning of the week, a unique and touching operation took place, distributing 101 pairs of tefillin to soldiers, corresponding to the 101 hostages still held captive by Hamas.
Behind this initiative are the leaders of the "Ohel Yosef and Brucha Toksor" community from Queens, USA: Rabbi Avner Yunaev, the community's rabbi, and Moshe Yan, the community president.
In a short time, the two raised a sum of tens of thousands of dollars to purchase 101 pairs of high-quality tefillin.
"Like the people in Israel, we too await the release of the hostages every day. We hope that through the soldiers' prayers with the tefillin we've given them, the gates of heaven will open, and our prayer to see all the hostages and captives return home before Rosh Hashanah will be fulfilled quickly," Rabbi Yunaev summarized the 'Operation 101' of the Jewish community in Queens.
Operations like the tefillin distribution have become an integral part of the life of the "Ohel Yosef and Brucha Toksor" community in Queens over the past year.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, the community began actively assisting soldiers and civilians in Israel. Unlike other organizations, the Jewish community preferred to operate away from the spotlight, but their contribution to the people in Israel and to the soldiers in particular was and still is very significant.
These contributions include equipment for soldiers, vests, food, 'spiritual strengthening' such as pairs of tefillin and tallitot, and school supplies for evacuated children.
"We've always had a very warm connection with Israel. It was clear to us that we couldn't stand idly by when our brothers are fighting for their lives, and we immediately mobilized to help in any way possible," describes Rabbi Avner Yunaev. But alongside the 'material help', the community leaders felt it was very important to assist in a way that would bring about a Kiddush Hashem and especially to stop the rift in the nation that had been deepening on the eve of the war's outbreak.
"It pained us greatly to see our brothers fighting among themselves before the war broke out. Especially in these days of deepening polarization between parts of the nation and voices openly speaking of a 'religious war' in Israel, a unique project like we've taken upon ourselves will bring about the sanctification of God's name and an important rapprochement. We had to take action and bring about reconciliation at sea. We believe that especially in the month of mercy and forgiveness, a project of this type has the ability to bring connection between parts of the nation and increase unity and brotherhood between brothers," the Rabbi concludes.
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