Just last month, I had the privilege of joining a mission, Chizuk V’Chibur, led by Rav Cutler from Yeshivat Hakotel. Together with students and other parents, we went to see the aftermath of the atrocities of October 7. After davening neitz at the Kotel, we left on a trip down to the Gaza border, visiting Netiv Ha’asara, S’derot, Sa’ad, and Nirim.
In Netiv Ha’asara we heard from a resident, Benny, who acted as our tour guide and told us the story of what occurred on the yishuv on October 7. Following the attacks the yishuv was deserted, sukkot were flipped over, windows were broken, and homes were completely burned to the ground. Many of the people in the yishuv are focused on peace, including an older couple who previously drove sick Palestinian children from the border to Israeli hospitals to get medical care and then back to Gaza. Their house was blown up with them inside; all that remained were the artistic plants and peaceful ornaments that decorated their backyard. There is a wall between the border and the yishuv that represents an “ideal peace,” but the imagery of terrorists flying over that wall with hang gliders, fully equipped with gear and coming to kill Jews, has yet to leave my mind and should be a wake-up call to everyone. Hearing and seeing this firsthand gave me a taste of a tiny fraction of what our brothers and sisters went through.
Our next stop was Sderot. In Sderot we heard from two heroes about their experiences protecting the city and advancing on the terrorists who overtook the police station. I was awestruck at these heroes of the Jewish people. Most people who I view as heroes of war have died in the process of defending the land, but here we were listening to stories not only of heroes who survived but also of those who stepped up and saved many people.
Next on our tour was Sa’ad. There we prepared a barbecue for a special unit of the army. They told us about their experiences in Gaza; they were all committed to the operation regardless of their ages, positions, and stages in life. We were able to participate in kaddish for a soldier mourning for his brother, celebrate a 45th birthday, and speak with a newly-married soldier who wasn't sure when he would be able to return to his new wife. Moshe, one of the officers, shared a powerful message with our group of students about the difference made by our Torah learning, continued prayers, reciting tehillim, giving charity, baking challah, and the delivery of sweet letters written by our students. I was able to deliver letters from Maimonides students and receive wonderful videos in return.
Our last stop was near a place called Nirim. There we met two alumni from Yeshivat Hakotel who had just returned from Gaza for a few days after being in combat for almost three weeks. They came back to Israel to fix a tank, and we were privileged to meet them just moments before they went back. What a powerful experience it was to spend those few minutes with our heroic soldiers sharing divrei Torah, giving hugs and words of encouragement, and singing.
Every place we went we personally saw the hand of G-d, not only in hearing the stories of what happened but also in what we experienced. We heard about how terrorists were at people’s doors trying to break in and failed, or how terrorists tried to take down a police officer who spoke to us in Sderot. He himself listed ten miracles that he personally experienced. Or how our friends in the tanks had fought under difficult conditions and returned with few casualties. For us today, the stories would’ve been enough. But in almost every place we traveled, red alerts went off shortly after we departed. In some cases, we saw the Iron Dome intercept the missiles. In Sa’ad we saw helicopters shooting flares to confuse the rockets and then, not long after, a real missile was intercepted and the pieces landed right near where we had been sitting not 30 minutes before. This was a lesson for us that wherever we go, so does Hashem. Hashem is constantly looking to protect us, and the more we trust in Him, the more we will come to see Him in our lives.
In this week’s parsha, the Jewish people panic as they are trapped between the Mitzrim and the sea. Hashem says to Moshe, מַה־תִּצְעַק אֵלָי דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִסָּעוּ, Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Jewish people to go forward! (Shemot 14:15). Rashi comments that Moshe had been praying, and Hashem commanded him to end his prayers and take action.
Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin explains in Nefesh HaChayim: דבדידהו תליא מלתא. שאם המה יהיו בתוקף האמונה והבטחון ויסעו הלוך ונסוע אל הים סמוך לבם לא יירא. מעולם בטחונם שודאי יקרע לפניהם. אז יגרמו עי"ז התעוררות למעלה שיעשה להם הנס ויקרע לפניהם.
[The splitting of the sea] depends on [the people of Israel]... If they are in the mode of faith and belief and they travel to the sea without fear, with a firm faith that it would split before them, then this will cause an awakening above so the miracle would occur and [the sea] will split.
Rashi’s point, says Rav Chaim, is not that prayer and action are opposite. Rather, they are connected. When our actions are inspired by our faith, when they follow and are connected with tefillah, and when we see the hand of Hashem in the events around us and move forward with faith, Hashem steps in to perform miracles.
May we continue to hear and share only besorot tovot. We wish our brave soldiers continued success. May all of the soldiers and hostages return safely to their homes, and may we continue to daven and take action in our schools, homes, and communities on behalf of Israel. | 
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