Wednesday afternoon, August 6
Always somebody's son
On Shabbos at The Shul the names of the IDF wounded are announced for a Mi Sheberach, a blessing of healing. Thank G-d the list grows progressively shorter, as soldiers heal and go back home.
Today some of these names became real people at Hadassah hospital.
Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital is in Jerusalem and this is where I headed for the afternoon, knowing that there were wounded soldiers on the fifth and sixth floors. On the fifth floor we encountered Chen.
This visit was so incredibly meaningful. Not just for me, but for Rut as well.
Rut is Chen's mother. She is a mother who is filled with love for her children. Two of whom are in the IDF.
She tells me that Chen called on Friday night. But the family do not answer the phone on Friday night as it is Shabbat. Ruth felt that she needed to get the phone and so she picked it up. She immediately told her son that he was getting such a mitzva calling her to tell her he was okay, even though it was shabbos. But Chen was calling to tell his parents that he had been wounded.
He has had surgery on his foot and his ear is filled with blood and he cannot hear from that ear. His skin is pierced with shrapnel over his entire body. He is in terrible pain and he is healing slowly.
Rut tells us a story of tragedy that accompanies Chen's victory from the jaws of death.
Chen and his batallion were excavating and clearing a Hamas tunnel. There was shooting from within the tunnel, an explosion and Chen was hit. His buddy ran in to pull him out. Grabbing his legs, where Chen had been hit, Chen began to scream in pain...his friend screamed back at him saying " you could have pain or be dead!", and he dragged him out of the tunnel to safety. And then he ran into the tunnel to save another member of their batllion. And then he was shot. In the neck. And he didn't make it.
Staff Sgt. Avraham Grintzvaig, 21 of Petah Tikva, died in battle saving the lives of his fellow soldiers.
It was clear that Rut needed this chance to talk. When I told Rut that I too was a mother of a soldier she opened up and allowed herself to speak the pain off her heart and find words of strength and greatness.
Hearing this story of mesirat nefesh - self sacrifice, listening to Rut segue to a place of strength telling me that she is grateful for the gift of her son, I am inspired and awed. As she sees it, if there were two options, receiving him in a box or wounded, she is grateful for this gift. He will heal she says, and he will be fine!!
As Chen heals he will read the file that was left at his bedside, a file of resolutions and messages of love from the Jewish community of Milwaukee. Rut says these will make him stronger and help him to smile again.