Volunteers Report from the Field

It may seem surprising that underwear and toiletries would make a soldier so happy, but as one of them put it: "I didn't have a chance to take a shower in days; these pleasantries are truly G‑d-sent."

We were coming to wrap tefillin on the soldiers and hand out the letters the wonderful readers of Chabad.org had sent. But would the soldiers care? Would they have time to worry about G‑d or letters?

Here is this young man, on the cusp of life, and he has just lost his arm. Yet all he can think about is his comrades who are fighting in Gaza and how he longs to be back with them, defending Israel...

I move on and talk to soldier after soldier. I hand them all letters, and their reaction is more or less similar to my friend's. Profoundly grateful, but bemused as to why they deserve any thanks.

You could see on their faces how meaningful this was to them. They were putting little missives of hope and love into their pockets--to take along with them in battle.

Each soldier smiled from ear to ear when receiving the iPod. Each soldier was brought close to tears by Kfir, whose story and attitude are so emotional and so inspirational that they could not help but be moved...