Original Article Is Posted On Chabad.org

A family’s tragedy in Israel unites Jews from near and far

Margit and Yosi Silverman were murdered on Oct. 7 by Hamas terrorists in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel. Though initially thought to have been taken hostage, they were soon identified and buried on the Monday after Simchat Torah.

Some 5,600 miles away, in Kingston, N.Y., Margit’s brother, Maurice Shnaider, suddenly became a mourner. The Peru-born, longtime resident of Colorado had just recently moved to Kingston, where he’d joined the Chabad-Lubavitch of Ulster County Jewish community, and he wondered whether he’d be able to even gather a quorum for prayers during the week-long shiva mourning period.

“I hoped we could gather 10 or 20 people,” says Shnaider. Instead, over the next week, 800 people showed up for shiva. “Some people came from three and four hours away.”

Kingston Jewish community member Michelle Tuchman was amazed by the scene. “Each night, hundreds of people came—even buses of people,” she says. “They came from Philadelphia, New Jersey and Montreal. I was so touched watching these young people coming to Maurice’s house.”

Howard Vichinsky, president of Chabad of Ulster, was similarly struck by the numbers and range of people who came to comfort Maurice and his family.

“People came from all over to pay their respects and to show their support and sympathy for the living,” he says. “They came from Lakewood, Englewood, Teaneck [New Jersey]; yeshivahs in Monsey and Riverdale, and in Durham [New York]; the local Reform temple; buses from junior high schools and high schools, Yeshiva University—way beyond our community.”

Vichinsky was particularly touched by a large group that came from a Chassidic yeshivah in Monsey, N.Y. “They came and sang beautiful songs in his home; you could see how comforting an act that was.”

About 50 people came the first night, says Vichinsky, then 150 on the second night, and 250 on the third. They came throughout the day—not just at minyan times—and stayed for hours.

“No one had ever seen anything like this,” he says. “Certainly not in Kingston.”

Shnaider (center left, in baseball cap) sits shiva in his home in Kingston, N.Y. He initially didn’t know who would come for the mourning period, but some 800 people showed up throughout the week. (Photo: Rabbi Yitzhak Hecht)

Tears and Dancing

Rabbi Yitzhak Hecht, together with his wife, Leah, directs Chabad of Ulster County. He began to learn of the mass terror attack in Israel as Shabbat—Simchat Torah in Israel and Shemini Atzeret abroad—progressed. He included additional Tehillim (“Psalms”) in the service but also placed an additional emphasis on “wiping out the negatives with positives” by stressing the need to rejoice in the holiday even more so than usual.

“We knew we needed to have more simcha [joy] than usual,” he recalls. Simchat Torah is the day the Jewish people dance together with the Torah, so “we danced our hearts out. That is what the Rebbe [Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory,] would have wanted us to do. He would want every Jew to do another mitzvah and another as a way of responding.”

When the holiday was out and the full-scope of the horror had set in, Rabbi Hecht and the community learned that not only had hundreds of their brethren been slaughtered in the Holy Land, but that one of their own had been directly affected.

Not only were Shnaider’s sister and brother-in-law among the murdered: Maurice’s niece and nephew, Shiri (Silverman) and Yarden Bibas, and their two sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, who just turned 10 months old, were kidnapped and are currently being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Awful images of Shiri holding her two red-headed boys as they’re being taken by Hamas are among those seared into the public’s minds from that terrible day.

“This horrible event was just a big blow to the whole community,” says Vichinsky. “Anyone who came to pay respects for Maurice’s loss was also paying respects for a tragedy that happened to all Jews that day—in Israel, and by extension, to all of us.”

Maurice, his wife Cindy and the youngest of their three boys had only joined the Kingston community a few months ago, but already they’ve become cherished members, with all the little things that come along with that: At one point, Maurice had mentioned to the rabbi that he’d owned and operated a coffee shop in Denver. Ever since, he’s been brewing fresh coffee for everyone who comes to the Kingston morning minyan on Mondays and Thursdays.

But Hecht was still touched when he observed how deeply the community came together to support Maurice and his family. “The unity we saw was uplifting. Everyone felt that we are all in it together,” he says. “From that alone, Moshiach should come!”

Rabbi Yitzchak Hecht, director of Chabad of Ulster County, was moved by the support the Kingston community and wider Jewish community showed Shnaider. “The unity we saw was uplifting,” he said. “Everyone felt that we are all in it together.” (Photo: Rabbi Yitzhak Hecht)

‘This Is What Unity Looks Like’

On the Thursday morning after the attack, shiva was held at Chabad, following morning prayers, and included a community gathering held on the synagogue’s front lawn. Standing together with the Shnaider family were Rabbi Hecht and fellow Chabad of Ulster Rabbi Avraham (A.B.) Itkin, and in attendance were local politicians, among them the mayor and other elected officials, as well as the media and Jewish and non-Jewish community members.

“We are standing under a sign that says ‘Do a Mitzvah for Israel,’ ” Hecht told the gathered. “We have to do mitzvahs, and acts of goodness and kindness [with which] we can change the world and make it a better place—a G‑dly place and a holy place.”

Praying for the coming of Moshiach—a time of peace and no war—might sound like a dream, Hecht said, “but you know what? We are living in a dream now with all of the negatives. Why have a bad dream if we can live in a good dream? [Let’s] make that good dream a reality.”

Hecht was followed by Maurice, who thanked everyone for joining. Maurice spoke of his “sense of belonging amid the grief and loss” and discovering that while he’d lost his sister, “I have gained an extended family, bound by the ties of G‑d, Judaism and compassion.” He spoke of the Rebbe’s charge to battle the forces of darkness with acts of goodness and kindness.

Tuchman, who was at the gathering, says she was touched by Shnaider’s remarks at the communal event, noting especially that Shnaider had indicated that at some point in the near future, he wanted to host a party in his home where all of the people who came for shiva could come back “for a good cause.”

Tuchman was also moved by presentations and remarks of the two rabbis, Hecht and Itkin.“It was very emotional,” she says, meaning both the communal event and the general shiva. “It was both very sad and very joyful.”

As the week of shiva drew to a close, Shnaider spoke about “going back to my family and myself.” He admitted that he was feeling exhausted from interacting with so many who came to offer comfort but full of thankfulness as well.

“People came to comfort me, but I was comforting them, too,” he says thoughtfully. “This wasn’t only for me. They were doing it for Am Yisrael [the Jewish people]. People came here to make a connection to Israel and to being Jewish, and this was the unity that I saw. B’yachad—‘together’—is the word I keep using. This is what unity looks like.”

Throughout the week, hundreds made the trek to Kingston to comfort Shnaider, some driving hours to be there with him and his family. (Photo: Bruce Tuchman)

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Original Article is Published at JPost.com

Rebecca and Ken Milgrim moved to the Gaza Strip in the 1980s. Now, in 2023, they’re back in Israel, this time in Modi’in.

For Rebecca and Ken Milgram, the Gaza Strip has played an important part in their two aliyah stories. Soon after making aliyah in 1982, the Milgrams lived for four years in Moshav Katif. And now, two months after their return to Israel for good in August 2023, they are spending time babysitting grandchildren, as both a son and a son-in-law have been deployed by the IDF to the Gaza border.

The London-born Rebecca and Philadelphia-born Ken met on their 1979-80 post-high school Bnei Akiva hachsharah (training) program in Israel. “We were young and Zionistic,” reports Rebecca, who spent her year on Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, while Ken was at Yavneh. The program included a three-month period in Jerusalem for all participants. “We just clicked!”

When the program ended, both returned home for college – Ken to the US, and Rebecca to England. The distance became insufferable in their year and a half apart. “There were no cellphones, and our once-a-week long-distance calls were expensive,” Ken notes. The two got engaged, joined a garin (a group of people who move to Israel together), got married in February 1982, and made aliyah one month later.

The Milgrams spent six months at an absorption center in Kiryat Yam (12 km. north of Haifa). Ken jokes, “They threw me out of ulpan after one week and sent me to work. My Hebrew wasn’t great, but I could read.” To which Rebecca quips, “Mine was better, and I was kicked out too!”

The Milgrams lived near Rebecca’s grandmother in Haifa and welcomed their first child, a daughter, Tamar (now 41). “It was great up there,” the Milgrams report, “but the goal was to live on kibbutz.”

WELCOMING REBECCA and Ken home. (credit: Courtesy Milgram family)

Ken and Rebecca spent a year and a half on Kibbutz Alumim, where Ken worked in the chicken coop, and Rebecca worked in the kitchen and in childcare. They note that the kibbutz “didn’t click” for them and for most of their garin, so they began exploring other options. They packed up their possessions, hired a truck driver, and relocated to Moshav Katif in what is now the Gaza Strip.

Ken recalls, “The Arab worker drove us in his truck and showed us his house in Gaza City. He told us to reach out if we needed anything.” Ken worked in the plant nursery, and Rebecca in the moshav office.

BOTH REPORT feeling safe on the moshav and in Gaza and recount regularly shopping in the town of Khan Yunis. “It was a very safe neighborhood to be in – for the most part. Then it got a little sketchy. In 1986, the army told us we needed to carry a gun to travel,” Ken adds.

The Milgrams observed the moshav to be in transition, from shared ownership to private. They again began considering their options. “We saw the writing on the wall,” notes Ken. “We didn’t have college degrees or any money and realized we’d have to reach out to our parents for help.”

The Milgrams relocated to the States, where they lived in Philadelphia and Sharon, Massachusetts, for an extended period of time. They had two more children (Jonathan, now 33; and Yardenna, now 30), completed college degrees at night, and worked – Ken as an accountant, and Rebecca in IT.

After 18 years in Philadelphia, the family relocated to the Boston suburb of Sharon for Rebecca’s job. Ken, who soon after found work as an accountant for such places as Camp Ramah in New England, was thrilled that their new city “checked all boxes,” including having an abundance of professional sports teams. “It was a good place for us.”

The Milgrams never lost sight of their dream and plan of returning to Israel. “It was always our end goal.” They note that it “got easier” as family members began moving to Israel. Their son studied on ulpan and became a lone soldier after high school; their daughter spent two years in National Service in Beit Shemesh; and their Israeli-born oldest son, who married a woman from England and spent time living there, returned to Israel in August 2022. Three months later, Ken’s mother, Arlene, made aliyah. “We realized there was nothing for us in Boston but cold weather!”

The Milgrams sold their house, packed up and shipped their possessions to Israel, and moved to Israel the day after Camp Ramah in New England let out for the summer. (Ken proudly posted photos on Facebook when their belongings finally arrived by truck at their new home in Modi’in.)

Somehow winding up living in Modi’in

THE MILGRAMS had never intended to settle in the Anglo-heavy city of Modi’in. Rebecca playfully and honestly notes, “We went for a Shabbat and hated it – it was way too Anglo!” They soon came to realize there were many wonderful things about Modi’in, including proximity to several grandchildren. The Milgrams are currently very happy residents of Modi’in, and all the grandchildren are “no more than 35 minutes away.”

They note that an important mantra that has helped them throughout the aliyah and adjustment process has been “Be all in!” They elaborate, “Don’t come with the idea that you can come for six months and see if it works. If you have one foot in, it won’t work. We sold our house and packed. That’s it. We are coming!”

They acknowledge the frustrations including Israeli bureaucracy and advise people to remember, “It is not the same as the States, it is the Israeli way – just get over it.” They also advise people to stop converting prices from shekels to dollars, as salaries are also different in Israel versus the States. “You just have to commit to it.”

The Milgrams point out that keeping American jobs (she continues to consult for her old company; he still works for Ramah—remotely during the year and in person during the summer), being close to family, and getting comfortable with Hebrew are all very helpful. But, they note, perhaps the most important thing is having a positive attitude. “Attitude is huge! You can’t allow it to get to you. Roll with the punches. There is plenty of good here.”

Forty years after their first attempt at aliyah, Ken admits, “Every so often, we go on Google Earth to see where our house was on the moshav [in Gaza]. Now it is just flat, concrete. It is a little hard. People don’t realize that Gaza City had a water park and hotels. It is not the picture people have in their heads.”

Rebecca offers, “We now live an hour and a half from the massacres.” Ken adds, “There is no place I’d rather be right now. It never once crossed our minds that we should leave.”■

The Milgrams Aliyah 1 From Philadelphia (Ken)  and Finchley, London (Rebecca) to Kiryat Yam, 1982; Aliyah 2 From Sharon, Massachusetts, to Modi’in, 2023

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Original Article is Published at jpost.com

Disclaimer: Howard Blas CONTRIBUTED to the article but only wrote the latter part about tennis player Ons Jabeur.

Many players, leagues help and support Israel • Tunisian tennis star Jabeur in hot water over war stance

Israeli teams are beginning to make plans to get back into the swing of things as best as they can during the war, as both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball teams will be in action beginning on Tuesday.

The Reds will be playing Tuesday against Reyer Venice in Italy as they look to pick up where they left off in EuroCup action after defeating Cedevita Olimija 100-73 in their continental opener two weeks ago.

Danny Franco’s import players had left for Athens earlier last week while the Israelis joined the foreigners in Italy over the weekend as they prepare as best as they can despite the trying circumstances.

Venice features a familiar face in head coach Neven Spahija, who led Maccabi Tel Aviv on a pair of occasions over the past two decades. The Croatian bench boss has many ties to the Holy Land and contacted The Jerusalem Post at the onset of the war last Saturday night to share his feelings and emotions during this challenging time.

“I’m so sorry about this attack… disaster. Please stay strong and positive. Everything is going to be OK. Big hug for all of you.”

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has condemned acts of violence on social media, but also included the hashtag #FreePalestine in her post. (credit: REUTERS)

Maccabi Tel Aviv will also return to action as it heads to Valencia for a Euroleague date on Wednesday night and then will fly to Athens to play Panathinaikos on Friday evening in a tough double week.

The yellow-and-blue’s foreign players departed for Cyprus as war broke out and the Israelis will now meet up with the rest of the squad. With a 96-81 win over Partizan Belgrade in the season opener, Maccabi will look to continue the positive momentum in Spain and Greece. In addition, the club’s former general manager Nikola Vujcic, who just left his post this summer, has volunteered to accompany Maccabi as it restarts its European campaign.

Israel’s basketball scene adapts and acts amid war

Meanwhile, over the past week Israel’s first NBA player Omri Casspi – along with Maccabi captain John DiBartolomeo, Rafi Menco, Roman Sorkin, Jake Cohen and head coach Oded Katash – all made visits to various locations in the country to raise the spirits of the many families that have been displaced due to the war.

“We’re trying to give the children a moment of joy and getting them to smile while we play with them. We are trying to do something and anything that we can will be a help to all of them,” Sorkin said.

Casspi spoke about what he has been doing over the past week to contribute as best as he can.

“Over the last few days I have been visiting many hospitals and here we are strengthening the families, but we are the ones who come out strengthened. We see the amazing power of the people of Israel as everyone is together with one goal. It is really heart warming.”

Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon are making plans to begin their respective Basketball Champions League campaigns and will be trying to switch their home games with their opponents in order to be able to host fans at a later date.

The Purples are slated to host Spanish side Rio Breogan next week, while the Reds are supposed to welcome Galatasaray from Turkey on November 1.

Bnei Herzliya, Ness Ziona, and Hapoel Galil Elyon are also in the same boat, with FIBA Europe Cup action set to begin.

Over on the soccer field, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa are going to gear up to play in their respective UEFA competitions – Conference League and Europa League – next week.

The yellow-and-blue are slated to host Zorya Luhansk, although management is trying to switch dates and visit the Ukrainian club at it temporary home in Lublin, Poland, on October 26.

The Greens are heading to Spain to play Villarreal on the same day as both Israel sides will need to get their full teams together after most foreigners opted to go home.

After a number of messages of support last week, Israeli star goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who plays for Bayern Munich, came out with a strong statement that has been shared all over social media platforms.

“I know how it is to be an athlete, there is so much pressure and everyone’s eyes are on us. Every second, every minute, every hour. Sometimes it’s good because we can influence with just a few words to millions. I promise you, it’s not about politics, over 1,300 innocent civilians murdered, over 2,700 injured and more than 150 hostages in Gaza including babies and elderly. We’ve seen in the past in history 9/11 and the 2015 terror attack in Paris. We know how much terrorism hurts and how important it is to fight against it.

“We are still processing everything that is happening. The horror, the kidnaps, the terrorism. The stories we thought we would never hear again. I call on all athletes and sport organizations all over the world to stand together. Speak out against terror, make a donation and stay strong. Let’s honor the victims with a moment of silence and unite as we fight against evil.”

Prior to the United States and Germany International friendly in Hartford over the weekend, a moment of silence was held for the Israeli victims of the war with Hamas, while the NFL did the same at Thursday night’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos and continued to do so for the upcoming weekend of games across America.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon finalist and current world No. 7 women’s tennis player Ons Jabeur, is finding herself in hot water over social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.  

The 29-year-old Tunisian Muslim, who withdrew from the quarterfinals of this week’s Bank of Communications Zhengzhou Open due to a knee injury, condemned acts of violence in Israel and called for peace. But her lengthy post, which ended with the #FreePalestine hashtag, expressed her support for the Palestinians.  

In a lengthy Instagram post, Jabeur, who was born in the small town of Ksar Hellal and grew up in the larger nearby coastal town of Sousse on the Gulf of Hammamet, wrote:  “What Palestinians have been going through during the last 75 years is indescribable.  What innocent civilians are going through is indescribable; no matter what their religion is, or what their origin is. Violence will never bring peace; I cannot stand with violence but I also cannot stand with people having their lands taken.

“So understanding context is important, looking at what’s happening today and deciding to ignore recent history is irresponsible and won’t bring peace. And peace is all we care about. Peace is what everyone needs and deserves. Stop the violence and #FreePalestine.”

Jabeur’s stance elicited a response from the Israel Tennis Association.

“This tennis player fights, incites and supports a murderous terrorist organization,” said ITA Chairman Avi Peretz in a statement. “We’re glad she’s in the minority… We trust our security and rescue forces to do their job and we pray they return safely.”

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Original Article is Published on JNS.org

“I noticed that non-working parents often did not have the funds to buy personal army gear for their kids,” says Ashkelon resident Beth Newmark.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashkelon resident Beth Newmark identified a need and did something about it.

The American immigrant to Israel explains, “I noticed that non-working parents often did not have the funds to buy personal army gear for their kids. It seemed obvious that people would have secondhand stuff they didn’t need and others who did need could benefit. Save some money, save the environment.”

Newmark created She’ilat KITBAG, a “gemach” for soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (an abbreviation of the Hebrew word, gemilut chesedim, or “acts of lovingkindness.” While technically a gemach is a Hebrew free-loan fund, the concept has expanded to include clothes, books, household items and more).

Israelis would donate used army gear and clothing that soldiers are required to purchase before they enlist in the army. Draftees would then travel to a nondescript apartment in Beersheva, across from the northern train station, to gather needed supplies. She’ilat KITBAG housed a large supply of T-shirts, fleeces, thermals, socks, canteens and the all-important large army duffle bag.

The Hebrew term she’ilat is slang derived from an (apocryphal) army experience shared by many soldiers. The expression was created when an IDF soldier, commanded to assemble for a march with weapons and ammunition vests, asked his superior if he should also bring his presumably very heavy kit back. The reply was: “Good idea, bring the kitbag as well.”

Had he not asked, presumably the commanders would never have thought to require bringing the kitbag. The expression, which has become part of general Israeli society, refers to any question that is better not asked.

Blankets, towels, socks, jackets

Newmark says she is proud of the gemach and adds that “everyone who commits to serving in the IDF deserves to have everything they need without forcing them to spend money they may not have.”

This week, the work of She’ilat KITBAG has expanded in unexpected ways. Due in large part to the call-up of 360,000 reservists and counting, there has been an expanded need for army clothing and other supplies.

Israel Defense Forces soldiers get much-needed items from She’ilat KITBAG. Credit: Courtesy.

Newmark reports that since the terror attacks perpetrated on Israel by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, “we have had requests for warm clothes, blankets and towels for 72 soldiers. Then, when we were packing, we got another call from 50 soldiers who needed socks, shirts and warm gear. And then we were almost done, and someone else reached out asking if we had anything and took what was left. We estimate that 200 to 300 soldiers will benefit.”

The extraordinary demand led Newmark to go beyond the initial model of receiving donations of used clothes and supplies. She purchased gear for 20 soldiers, including underwear, socks, fleece jackets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, thermal clothing for under uniforms, flashlights, headlamps and gloves, She was unable to locate portable chargers, which she says are greatly needed by the soldiers.

Newmark and four volunteers moved quickly and managed to pack up 50 black garbage bags stuffed with goods, which were delivered to bases a short drive from Beersheva. “Our shelves are bare,” one of them said. “Time to start restocking!”

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