Beth Aaron, along with several Teaneck shuls will be celebrating Shabbat Chayal on May 14th. Shabbat Chayal will be in loving memory of Ilan Tokayer, z”l. Together, we will celebrate our values and honor the children of our community in the IDF whose passion and idealism continue to inspire us.

 

Those of you who knew Ilan Tokayer, z”l, knew of his unyielding dedication to the State of Israel and Tzahal. In 2005-06, Ilan served in a combat unit in the IDF, fulfilling his commitment to the land and people of Israel. In this way, Ilan was not alone. Like other sons and daughters in our community, Ilan realized his sense of obligation and stood up to the challenge, veering from the traditional course to volunteer and enact what he believed. We who live outside the borders of Israel benefit enormously from the great sacrifice of the soldiers and their families.

 

We travel to Israel at will, send our children there for Torah study, and take for granted the constant and ongoing safety we feel under the protection of the IDF. In conjunction with programming events planned for this Shabbat, Beth Aaron will be sponsoring a fundraising Kiddush for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Lone Soldiers Program.

This year we will be raising money for a specific need that is addressed by Friends of the IDF, a non-for-profit organization with the sole purpose of providing for the physical and spiritual needs of the soldiers.  Soldiers in the IDF who do not own their own pairs of tefillin but would like to fulfill the mitzvah of wrapping tefillin can take advantage of a shared “tefillin bank”. However, the demand for these tefillin far exceeds the current supply, and there is a need for an additional 4,000 pairs of kosher and mehudar tefillin.   All of the money raised  by Beth Aaron this year will go towards the purchase of these pairs tefillin for the soldiers.  How moving is the idea that the chayalim turn to HaShem in their time of service.  We believe that it is a great zechut to aid in their doing so.

 

We are hoping for 100% participation from the members of all our shuls. Kiddush sponsorships can be made on-line at http://www.bethaaron.org/event/chayal16 or via check. If paying by check, please mention FIDF Kiddush in the check memo line. Sponsorship categories include Chayal ($18), Tal Aluf ($19-$99), Aluf ($100-$199) and Rav Aluf ($200 & over). Sponsorships will be publicized in the Kol Beth Aaron and on a poster in the lobby on May 14th.

 

By generously donating to the IDF Kiddush, Ilan’s ideals and goals live on, and you are stating clearly and loudly that we are with our young men and women serving in the IDF for our benefit, be-chol makom she-haim.

 

With much appreciation,

 

Shifra Shafier and Mordechai Ungar