Haredim for IDF: Haredi's adopt soldiers

A haredi initiative designed to connect between the Orthodox community and soldiers. The initiative under the name 'one thousand down', is intended for anyone who wants it, gets the name of one of the soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip, prays for him and devotes his learning to his success and health.

Behind the initiative is the desire to do something for the success of the 'pillar of defense' operation. "We have received and we continue to receive thousands of calls," says one female manager of the initiative in a conversation with B'Chadrei Charedim. "We receive calls from all over the country and all over the world and the phones have not stopped ringing for 24 hours a day - and this is proof of how the people of Israel recruits for important missions."

The initiative was born during the "Cast Lead" operation with the blessing of Rechovot city Rabbi and Boston Rebbe zt "l. When they came to seek the blessings of Reb Chaim Kanievsky for the initiative," says HaGaon Kook, "he replied:" Sure, what is the question. David Hamelech placed for every man going to war another man to pray for him. What are you asking me? King David said it."

There are also other initiatives: 'Ayelet Hashachar' organization, which deals with setting up Synagogues in kibbutzim across the country, established a special center for the southern communities, providing religious books or running phone chavrusos and Torah lessons.

Strengthening the south

Chairman of the 'Ayelet Hashachar', Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan, "the responses are very positive, people are very interested and connected, we were surprised how much. Even in many kibbutzim that we have a stigma on them that they are over the fence for us, we came across with a positive attitude. "

The center, with about 25 activists of the organization, has been working for about a week. So far, dozens of kibbutz residents have joined the friendships held by the organization. At the same time, the organization's activities continue, even under fire. For example, Moshav Ein Habashor, a fully secular settlement, Torah classes continue to exist each evening at the synagogue, when people who have remained in their homes despite the shelling come to participate, and residents of kibbutzim as well as other kibbutzim and settlements in the area.

"The goal is to strengthen as much as possible the backbone of communities in the Gaza strip and continue Torah classes as normal, specifically these days."Torah protects us and learning assists the IDF soldiers," says Rabbi Shachar Botzhak, who lives in Ein Habashor and serves as rabbi of the local synagogue.

In the city of Be'er Sheva, a group of Mekubalim held a special tikun for war-time: The tour of the tikun started at the Rashbi grave in Meron and ended in Beer Sheva. The prayer is based on the tikun composed by the Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Fatia during World War II, and Mekubal Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, during the Gulf War.

The prayer was led by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Linker, who called the order of the special prayer and then the shofar was blown.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!