Rabbi Avi Berman and Keren Harush of OU Israel joined the special Arutz Sheva broadcast with the Israel Government Tourist Corporation and the Ministry of Heritage at the Burnt Vehicles Compound in Southern Israel to talk about the site's meaning for Jews around the world.
Keren told about her experiences of the massacre. "We thought it was an ordinary rocket attack, but the sirens just kept going on and on. Then we started hearing real gunfire getting closer and closer, and seeing the terrorists driving by. We went into survival mode, and locked ourselves in the shelter. We had some water and crackers, but nothing else. I was pregnant at the time. I told my husband to look at his phone, and his face said everything. We piled furniture against the door and I began to say the confession prayer for someone who thinks they will die."
Rabbi Berman recalled the feeling of the holiday ending on the spot. "People were thinking 'Oh my god, it's the Yom Kippur War.' People were checking if they could be called to read the Torah before going out to battle. Teens were hearing that their family had been killed. One of our members mentioned saying the blessing upon dying to sanctify God's name because he heard terrorists at the entrance to his house. Simchat Torah was over."
Karen had to be evacuated by ambulance as she began experiencing contractions. "We only understood the true nature of the attack after Shabbat ended, when we began watching videos of what had happened. At the same time, we could hear shooting and bombing outside our window, even as the news was telling us what was going on."
She talked about how the OU began working to help youth soon after the attack. "We began taking the evacuees to pizza, movies, anything for a bit of normalcy. Even in a hotel, it's hard not to be in your own home for so long."
Rabbi Berman related to how the nation has reacted to the war. "You can see endless appreciation from Jews around the world for each and every one who was here. Even a small gift - an American granola bar or a few candies with a heart from LA or St. Louis - the heart helps more than the chocolate. They may think it's a small gift, but here, it's not small at all. It's a degree of bonding we have not seen in our nation in a long time." He emphasized that the war has seen many miracles and that the Jewish people must thank God as they move on to recovery.
Keren talked about the regrowth of the nation after the massacre. ''Our kids are stronger now. We have more faith and resilience. They give that to their parents and grandparents, who need it. The children know that it's their responsibility now."
Rabbi Berman ended by comparing the nation to the fruit trees that were planted at the Burnt Vehicles Compound. ''These trees look dead now, but in a few weeks, they will be in bloom. Our nation may look dead now, but in ten or twenty years, we will be in full bloom again."