He fought like a lion! Ten of his friends weren’t as fortunate as him and they heroically died defending their base on October 7th.
Dolev told us his story as he was clutching a Torah that he saved on that fateful day. Amidst fighting for his life and those of his battalion, he saw a terrorist grab a Torah and run into the bushes to hide with it. Dolev elminated that terrorist — and here he was holding onto that very Torah.
We were there on a Chabad solidarity mission and we had sponsored replacing the Torah cover that had gotten sullied — it was a small gesture but outsized in the experience — a life altering experience.
You see, the dancing that ensued was some of the most fervent, joyous, existential and uplifting expression of pure soul that I’ve ever experienced. We were dancing with the source of the Jewish nation’s strength, the Torah. We were dancing for our lives. Not that we were threatened rather it was “for our lives”. It was a dance that underscored the entire depth of our existence. It was a dance that encapsulated the enduring nature of Am Yisrael through thick and thin since Abraham and Sarah — we were dancing “for life”.
Dolev stood there clutching the Torah and wouldn’t let it go. The palpable emotion permeated every inch of the room and then the penny dropped. We were dancing the dance that was never danced on Simchat Torah this year in Israel. Everyone was in bomb shelters, fighting for their lives or no longer able to dance. Yes, the joy of the Torah with the dancing that accompanies it on that most joyous day of the year, was being enacted right there in that very base that so many ” Kedoshim- holy souls” were snuffed out. It was being enacted with the holy soul Dolev — who was standing there elevated and elevating us all.
This is the nation of Israel. This is what’s happening in Israel now. Everyday people with not such everyday stories. Each story of our brother’s and sister’s in Israel has a depth and power of transcendent nature. Each person like that Torah that Dolev was clutching—enduring, timeless, infinite, raw-power — Am Yisrael!
This weekend we celebrate Purim. We now understand this historical story as if it happened in front of our eyes. It’s our story. It’s not “his” story and we also know the ending. Yes, despite what the commentators and pundits say we know the end of the story and that’s what we celebrate this weekend. I urge you to add more Purim to your life this weekend. It’s not important where you celebrate it — it is important that you celebrate it and that you share it with your family. Ultimately, the end is a happy ending and that must always be front and center in our lives!
Happy Purim & blessing and wishes that it become a whole lot happier for everyone!!