Chabad Center is launching in our neighborhood.

 

There is a new young couple in our Neveh Pardessim neighborhood of Pardes Hanna. They are creating a new center for Chabad. Rabbi Mendi and his wife Mushka are indeed a power couple. They moved into the neighborhood two years ago with their baby daughter Geula Devorah and are paving the way with their outreach programs and outstretched arms and their recent campaign fundraiser.

 

I enjoy attending the monthly women’s Rosh Hodesh programs and am learning every Monday evening about the book of the soul called the “Tanya” with Mushka.

 

The highlight of the women’s monthly program was the recent November Rosh Hodesh program. Mushka invited Yelena Tropnov as the guest speaker an incredibly strong woman who was kidnapped and held in Hamas captivity for 54 days. Yelena came to speak about her heart wrenching story. In her Russian accent and well-spoken Hebrew she told us how she learned that her husband was not kidnapped but killed in the field on October 7th near Kibbutz Nir Oz where they lived. Yelena’s only son Sasha is still a hostage. Her mother was also kidnapped.

 

Yelena and her mother did not know of each other’s whereabouts until they were both released. Yelena was asked by a woman in the audience to explain how she felt when she was reunited with her mother in the vehicle that escorted them from Hamas hell to Israeli safety. Yelena told the audience that although she was happy to be reunited with her mother, she remains utterly heartbroken knowing that her son is still in captivity. She spoke of being in a zombie state and feeling like life is being suspended while she continues to pray fervently for the return of her son.

 

Yelena spoke of her unwavering faith in God that helped her while she was in captivity and elaborated that her faith has been strengthened since returning from captivity. She now observes the Sabbath.

 

During this emotional evening program I danced with my Israeli Jewish sisters and with Yelena as we took turns hugging her and encircling her. It was a surreal state of being both joyous and heartbroken.

 

We must continue to support each other and support initiatives like the new Chabad in my neighborhood.

 

Watch the video and donate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M-Q317uBPE