Day 223
Lessons from the war:
Daniel Hemo is one of the five IDF soldiers who was killed in a tragic friendly fire incident in Gaza this week.
Daniel is an example of the extraordinary nature of our soldiers and youth in Israel.
He had signed up with the bone marrow registry in Israel which is called Ezer Mizion.
He matched with a woman in her 60s just before October 7. He has been scheduled to be discharged from the army on October 7 to begin the donation process. However, due to the outbreak of war the process was postponed.
The process was delayed, but the illness was progressing, so Daniel received a special dispensation to take a temporary leave to donate his marrow to save a life.
He immediately returned to his unit to fight another foe, and was tragically killed in the friendly fire incident this week.
Another hero has been taken from us.
Daniel made a Kiddush Hashem in his short time on earth.
We lost this giant at the age of 20.
A Kiddush Hashem means that he sanctified the name of Gd with his actions.
Daniel was focused on saving lives. And did so with his very being.
Another one of the fallen in this heartbreaking friendly fire situation was Roy Beit Yaakov, 22 years old. His father, a soldier who is also serving in Gaza, went on national television after the horrific accident.
He said, all these soldiers (those involved in the deadly accident)are righteous people, tzadikim.
He stated that when we are in the midst of war, terrible accidents can occur. He went on to invite the soldiers to his home, he wants to hug and comfort them.
He says of course he is in pain over losing his precious child, but this time is also a time which is highlighting the strength and courage of the Jewish people which calls “awesome”.
Instead of lashing out in pain and criticism, Roy’s father created a space for love and healing.
He gave emotional life to those who are devastated by the unintended result of their actions.
He created a Kiddush Hashem.
In his behavior he sanctified Gd’s Name, by acting as a Jew should act, shoeing love and empathy instead of spewing hatred and contempt.
This week’s Torah portion is entitled Emor and it teaches us that we are Gd’s ambassadors in the world.
“I must be sanctified” says Gd.
How do we mere mortals sanctify Gd’s name?

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks shares an explanation:
Sanctifying Gd’s name is the responsibility of the Jewish people.
How is Gd known in this world?
According to the Torah perspective, Gd is known primarily through Jewish history and Jewish actions.
Gd is known through the way Gd interacts with the Jewish people, the tests, the miracles, the inexplicable events that Gd has enacted for the Jewish people.
And when we behave in a way that engenders admiration for the Torah and the Jewish faith, we are the light to the world and thereby sanctify Gd’s name.
Rabbi Sacks quotes Maimonides on this topic:
“If a person has been scrupulous in his conduct, gentle in his conversation, pleasant toward his fellow creatures, affable in manner when receiving, not retorting even when affronted, but showing courtesy to all, even to those who treat him with disdain, conducting his business affairs with integrity…and doing more than his duty in all things, while avoiding extremes and exaggerations-such a person has sanctified Gd.”
Sounds like Daniel.
Sounds like Roy’s father.
Sanctifying Gd can express itself in huge gestures.
It can also be conveyed in very small actions.
A friend of my mine was once shopping for boots at Syms, a store that sadly is no more.
The place where “an educated consumer was the best customer”.
A unique sales approach at Syms was the price reduction process. If items were on the sales floor for a certain period of time the price was reduced.
The sales people would use a ballpoint pen to write the new price on the label at the bottom of the boots.
My friend found a pair much to her liking.
The cost…$79.
It was a bit steep for her, but after some serious soul searching (no pun intended) she overcame her concerns over the cost and headed to the register.
The cashier rang up…$39.
Then came the moment of reckoning. She rationalized to herself that the 7 really looked like a 3 and if that’s what the cashier thought why did she need to correct his assumption?
After a moment’s deliberation, and after swatting away the pesky voice that told her she was looking a gift horse in the mouth, she showed the cashier the ticket and the correct price.
This friend was a regular at Syms, having shopped their frequently for the whole family. The Indian salesperson knew she was Jewish.
He looked at the ticket, corrected the price on the cash register, looked her square in the eye and said to her
“Your Gd loves you”.
This event took place over 25 years ago, but my friend says she will never forget the uplifting feeling of having done the right thing.
She made a Kiddush Hashem.
In these days we are fighting against the ultimate evil.
We have to remind ourselves not to engage in behaviors that would, Gd forbid, be a desecration of Gd’s name.
Anytime we need a reminder of how to do it right, what it looks like to Sanctify Gd’s name under the most difficult of circumstances, we need only look to the people who are fighting for us, willing to sacrifice their lives for us, but in the process never lose their humanity, the spark of Gdliness and kindness that is in their soul.
Those sparks will light our way out of this darkness.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!