3 months ago, Bais Rivkah Seminary had the opportunity to go to Eretz Yisroel and partake in a challah bake with the mother of hostage, Orit Meir. This past Motzei Shabbos, her son was one of the four hostages released.
Here is an account of the events that took place, shared by The Bais Rivkah Seminary Madrichos
Malka Bondar, Chana Leah Lesches, Mushka Cohen, and Sara Weisberg
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It had been an exhausting day.
A red-eye flight, followed by a full day of nonstop traveling from one city to another in Eretz Yisroel, we were over 30 hours with no sleep. This was our first day on The Bais Rivka Seminary Alef Live and Learn Trip to Eretz Yisroel directed by Mrs. Malka Touger. Exhausted was an understatement, and we were more than ready to settle into our lodgings for a long-deserved rest.
However, we had one more stop to make. A stop that changed the lives of those present and a stop that we will never forget. Our bus drove through the hills of Yerushalyim as we pulled up to our destination. We had the incredible opportunity and zchus to join the weekly challah bake organized by Chabad of Talbiya. Every week since the war, shlucha, Mrs. Chana Canterman organizes a beautiful mega challah bake where a different mother of a hostage comes to join in the mitzvah of hafrashas challah. This wasn’t an ordinary seminary trip to Eretz Yisroel. With the war going on, we were here on a mission to bring simcha and hope to our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel.
We walked in ready to take part in the challah bake with Orit Meir, mother of the hostage, Almog Meir Jan.
This was a night that we will never forget. There was not a dry eye in the room, as Orit Meir spoke emotionally about her son and made the hafroshas challah, with singer Chaya Kogan leading the crowd with songs of Emunah and strength. We cried. We davened. We danced. The energy was tangible as we all shared and gave chizuk to each other for Almog Meir Jan’s safe return.
The hour grew late, and we didn’t want to leave, but the bus was ready to take us back. On our way out, The Shlucha told us that we have no idea what we were accomplishing and what a difference we were making. we couldn’t leave. Our Adrenaline kicked in as we ran back into the event and continued dancing together.
The room was pulsing with joy and energy reverberating through the walls as we danced together late into the night. The Achdus in the room was palpable and the simcha was not words that can be described.
We ended on a high as the shlucha handed a Rebbe Dollar to Orit Meir. Her face lit up as she thanked us for bringing back simcha and emunah into her life. We knew we made a difference, and saw how moved everyone was. We felt this was definitely the highlight of our trip.
Boruch Hashem, 3 months later, this past Motzei shabbos the messages poured in about the incredible release of the 4 hostages. We took a closer look and paused. What news! One of the hostages released was Orit Meir’s son, Almog Meir Jan!
With the part we played, the Chizuk, simcha, and the mitzvos we took upon ourselves for her son to return home safely, had an astronomical effect.
Never underestimate how far one good act can go. The facts stare us clearly in the face. Simcha Poreitz Geder!
There’s no maybes, perhaps, or possibilities. True Simcha Breaks Boundaries! It was an incredible Zchus to partake in such a Shlichus and see it come back full circle. May we merit that all the hostages be returned safely with the coming of Moshiach NOW!
He was rescued by the IDF, not released
Media has a strong influence and does all it can to downplay the IDFs heroism.
And btw the overall sentiment of ‘bring them home’ also has a wrong slant.
It should be ‘LET THEM GO!’
The onus and responsibility to be put on the evil perpetrators, nowhere else.
Yes, Israel as a people must do all they can to rescue their citizens, but what’s happened to accountability?
Or is that only supposed to be taught to children. Right.
Mrs kanterman the chabad shlucho ,who host every week a challah bake is someone unbelievable, she puts her time money effort into getting a mother of one of the hostages each week to come to the event.anyone who has joined this event comes put uplifted and feels strengthend in their emunah. Bless you !
Thank you Mrs. Canterman for organising this event and inviting the seminary to participate. Yishar Koach for all the past and future events like this, which will hopefully culminate immediately in a challah baking event marking the return of all the hostages, end of the war and the welcoming of Moshiach. A huge thanks to Bais Rivka seminary alef whose energy, stamina and outpouring of simcha created the atmosphere that made the event the success that it was, despite the difficulty of the very long day and night directly after the flight to Eretz Yisrael. תלכו מחיל אל חיל Malka… Read more »
What amazing news!! Hatzlacha rabba with your shlichus! It’s really inspiring to see what you do for all the yidden in eretz yisroel with real selflessness!