More than 100 people gathered at the La Cañada Country Club for United With Israel, an event to show unity and solidarity with the people of Israel. The event was hosted earlier this month by Chabad of the Crescenta Valley and led by Rabbi Mendy Grossbaum and Mushka Grossbaum.
After having lost more than 1,300 people and after the capture of more than 100 hostages, men and women, from infants to the elderly, Jewish people and friends from around the LCF area joined together in support of their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.
Mushka Grossbaum shared opening remarks, speaking of the pain and anguish felt by all and of the heroism and self-sacrifice of so many — including people like Yigal Singer, an Israeli police officer who went into harm’s way and led a convoy of 100 civilian cars —saving close to 500 people, who after he was injured and managed to find an escape route, cried from his hospital bed and reportedly said: “I could have saved more.”
As well as the Heroism of Abad El Rahman Alansasra, a Muslim Israeli Arab who drove young people escaping the festival under live fire saving countless lives until he was shot at the entrance of a kibbutz, leaving behind a wife and seven children. Mushka Grossbaum went on to explain that in these moments of solidarity, it is crucial that the community come together to strengthen its connection with Israel and show unwavering support.
She reminded attendees that just like how the Torah teaches that the physical protection of each person and the people’s collective destiny is intrinsically connected to their spiritual activity. When one prays or dedicates a good deed to the people of Israel, she said, it creates a spiritual defense shield for them that will help them through difficult and dangerous times.
The rabbi led the recitation of a few chapters of Psalms. A special prayer for the protection of the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, was led by local police officer and former member of the IDF, Leo Duek.
The guest speaker at the event was Tal Rapaport who spoke both from the perspective of a lone IDF soldier, as well as a clinical psychologist. One of the things that she spoke about was the idea of resilience. Rapaport’s message to those in attendance was to remain hopeful and with a sense of resilience and optimism in knowing that there is so much that can be achieved despite also having feelings of sadness and anger.
The evening concluded with singing and dance led by Max “Nissim” Cohen, accompanied by Yosef Shusterman on the guitar.
First published in the October 26 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
