The group heard from Lieutenant Colonel Erez Sa’adon, the unit’s founder and commander, about the importance of personal responsibility that each of us bears and the importance of rising to action and not waiting around for others. These reservists and refurbished tanks are currently on critical missions in Gaza. This story of out-of-the-box thinking, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and more, are the very essence of the story of the State of Israel. The sense of mission and drive, and the deep understanding that each of us are responsible for the present and future of our country were very strongly felt.
From there, the group moved on to the Sderot police station. The station was the location of a very difficult and heroic fight, which demanded a high price to be paid and will be shared in the wartime chronicles for generations to come.
In Kibbutz Kfar Azza’s young neighborhood, accompanied by kibbutz member Shani, the group saw the remains of the horrors of October 7. They held a short ceremony, saying Kaddish, and reciting tehillim there, in the home of Nirel Zini and Niv Arviv, son and future daughter-in-law of a teacher at our Sderot high school who were murdered on Simchat Torah.
At the edge of the kibbutz, overlooking the Gaza Strip, the group received a security briefing and outline of the first few days of war from Shachar Mor, IDF Chief of Staff of Northern Gaza. The strong feeling in the group was mourning and sorrow for all the lives lost, and prayers and hope for the safe return of all our soldiers and hostages.
In Moshav Tekumah, in a large field where cars were brought from the very heavy fighting, the group was exposed to the respectful and meticulous way in which the Rabbinic arm of the IDF dealt with human remains that were removed from the cars. An eerie silence could be felt, telling the story of the car owners and drivers no longer with us.
The group served as representatives of the Reshet’s educators across Israel and friends and partners worldwide.
