True and deep relationships develop with subtlety and gentleness, far from the public eye. During this month of Elul, whose initials stand for the verse, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine," relationships with our Divine beloved are being nourished and developed throughout this land.

Israelis are searching out for depth and meaning in their lives.



A people bereft of political leadership, beset by concerns from within and by enemies from without, are quietly reaching inwards and upwards. Without much fanfare and far away from the public eye, Israelis are searching out for depth and meaning in their lives. As it has always been, the main focus of this yearning and searching has been on the level of the prat, the singular individual, and his or her connection to their own soul and to their Creator. Yet, something that is both ancient and new is hovering in the air.


That something is an awareness that had once been integral to the long voyage of the Jewish people, but had been somewhat forgotten in the midst of the long and painful exile. That awareness is simply the idea, reintroduced by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, that the focus of one's spiritual yearning must also be inexorably linked to the spiritual yearning of Klal Yisrael, the people-hood of Israel.


In the past, this concept of Klal Yisrael was defined as being the sum of all its parts, its pratim. The concept that Klal Yisrael, the people of Israel, may itself be a living and breathing entity has reignited the imagination of more and more Israelis. These people are finding that their personal search for purpose and direction necessarily involves and revolves around their connection to the people of Israel as a people.


During the too many years I was living in North America, I was very involved in all sorts of Kiruv-related activities. Kiruv, which means "coming close," has become the word that describes all the educational and recreational projects that are aimed at bringing Jewish people back to their spiritual moorings. They were aimed at giving them the educational tools to make rational spiritual decisions as opposed to decisions made out of fear and habit. I have been privileged to become part of those types of activities in Israel as well, and in so doing, I have uncovered a relatively untapped wellspring of spiritual potential and power. It is a wellspring that has been agitating and churning in this land for a very long time, yet quietly and hidden from the eye of public awareness.


The OU in Israel, mainly identified with their kashrut supervision, has, along with many other groups, been deeply involved in this silent revolution. In the past, kiruv activities have been focused on bringing people into religious observance and into a deeper relationship with the Divine. Recently, the activities in Israel have been focused more on empowering Israelis to find the Jewishness in their own lives. Observance and deep

The focus of one's spiritual yearning must also be inexorably linked to the spiritual yearning of Klal Yisrael.

spiritual connections invariably flow when that inner power is tapped.


Makom BaLev ("A Place in the Heart") one of those programs, runs centers in the development towns of Israel with the purpose of giving the youth and their families a place to serve as an oasis of warmth and spirituality in the midst of the hectic existence of Israeli life. It is only in the spiritual safety of such an environment that people can and do make qualitative decisions regarding the Jewish nature of their lives.


In one of the recent events of Makom BaLev, a large group of families from the embattled town of Sderot were taken to visit other communities for several days of relaxation and fellowship. One of the participants in this outing was a man who, though physically disabled, had in the past become a symbol of the resilient strength of Sderot. He became one of the most sought-after speakers throughout the country on the issue of "standing strong against adversity."


Regrettably, this man and his family were recently beset by tragedy when their young eight-year-old daughter was killed in a traffic accident. This symbol of strength and vision became a shattered vessel. In his brokenness, he could not face G-d anymore. And in his anger, he decided to stop praying to Him. He also stopped putting on tefilin that he had been putting on every weekday morning since his bar mitzvah. He ignored all the requests of the different organizations asking him to come and speak. He preferred the quiet and loneliness of his home. That is, until Makom BaLev invited him and his family to join them on their outing.


The power of Klal Yisrael began to work its charm. As the group traveled from place to place, they were welcomed by the local residents with cakes and affection. Everywhere they went, they were approached by individuals who simply wanted to tell them, "Thank you for being strong.... You represent all of us.... You are all of us." The effect of all this love and warmth was both healing and empowering.


The group then went to visit the tank corps museum in Latrun. A special pair of tefilin were brought out and people were given the opportunity to put them on and say the Shema prayer. The tefilin belonged to Lt. Col. Emanuel Moreno (H.y.d.), who was killed in action in Lebanon on August 19, 2006. Lt. Col. Moreno, a senior commander in the

He wrapped the tefilin on and, with each turn of the strap, tears began to flow.

General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Matkal) lived modestly with his wife Maya and three young children in Moshav Tlamim, near Sderot. His exploits in the army are the stuff of legends and are also of such a secretive nature that, until his date, there is yet a prohibition of publishing his picture. He was killed in a fierce battle with Hizbullah fighters near Baalbek in the Bekaa valley, not far from the Lebanese-Syrian border, after he and his men were airdropped into the area along with their two Hummer vehicles.


Though a loyal soldier, 52 weeks before he was killed he was sneaking into the Gush Katif area every night to visit his brother and family, who were struggling against the expulsion orders of Ariel Sharon. He was a soldier whose life was committed to Klal Yisrael. It was his tefilin that these people were now putting on for prayer.


The man from Sderot who had been broken by his own personal tragedy decided to put on those tefilin. He wrapped the tefilin on and, with each turn of the strap, tears began to flow. When he wrapped the strap around his fingers and said the words, "And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in compassion. And I will betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness; and HaShem shall be known" - he was weeping.


And his soul was healed.