Jewish holidays coincide not only with historical events but also with agricultural seasons. As such, we are commanded that Passover must fall out in the springtime. Being that we operate on a lunar cycle, in leap years we add an entire month before Passover when it is clear that without this additional time Passover would not be celebrated in spring. When we add this additional month, called Adar II, as we did this year, Purim is celebrated during this month to connect one miraculous redemption to another.
Miraculous would be a good term to use in describing Connections Israel’s springtime initiatives. This year, many new schools, communities and individuals joined our Purim campaign in which we delivered thousands of mishloach manot packages to soldiers serving in every branch of the IDF – army, navy and air force. Soldiers were so touched by your concern for them, that many wrote short thank you notes on the spot!
Purim provided the natural connection to Passover – from one redemption to another; from extra goodies and warm wishes to meeting basic needs that enable family celebrations. Our goal was to supply the 30 soldiers who had been identified to us as lacking basic necessities for Pesach to be stocked with whatever they need. Once again, you answered our call and all 30 requests were met. In some cases basic ingredients were provided to a soldier’s family so that he could return from base and his mother would have food to feed him; a young couple who recently became parents needed baby formula in addition to basic ingredients and they received not only that but a small gift for the baby; some young men received a new shirt for the chag and other’s pocket money to enjoy the day off they had from their service. In essence, each soldier’s unique needs were met which enabled him or her to enjoy this holiday of freedom!
Just as our ancient freedom came at a great cost of hundreds of years of slavery, our modern freedom also came at great cost of human life. In the weeks following Pesach, we have remembered those who were massacred during the Holocaust , those who gave their lives on our soil’s battlefields and those murdered in terrorist attacks. We have shared personal information on Holocaust victims, fallen soldiers and victims of terror with you in the hopes that by becoming familiar with an individual it would help you feel connected to our People and our national commemorations.
As we know, both personally and as a nation, the darkest of nights are followed by great light. And so, we have been privileged to celebrate Israel’s 63rd Independence Day with our chayalim and look forward to Yom Yerushalayim and re-experiencing the joy that flowed freely upon the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 once the Old City was liberated from Jordanian rule by our paratroopers. Those of us who are privileged to live in Israel drink in these days with pride and a sense of being a part in the chain of history. We encourage you to visit our website read firsthand accounts of this modern day miracle by the soldiers who were there. New educational materials are also available for free on our website for your school programming. As always, we would be happy to consult with you in designing a meaningful program for your community.
It is never enough to be satisfied with one’s accomplishments. So in this time period between Pesach and Shavuaot, when we count the days towards receiving the torah, we at Connections Israel are also busy planning ahead and counting the days till our next major event – the annual Sderot group bar mitzvah for needy children and their families. Just as all Jews were present at Mt. Sinai to receive the torah, we make sure that all families who want to celebrate their personal acceptance of torah through a bar mitzvah are able to do so. Please consider partnering with us on this program.
Details are available on our website.
Finally, for those of you who are planning to visit Israel in the coming months, please let us know. We’d be delighted to help make what is sure to be a special trip, even more unique. Celebrating a simcha in Israel? Consider sharing it with lone soldiers, peers in Sderot or doing a chesed project while here. When you do an action, you create memories that last a lifetime, and we are happy to create the connection!
Wishing all of you, our partners and supporters, a healthy spring and summer!
