{"id":29938,"date":"2012-11-15T22:32:27","date_gmt":"2012-11-15T22:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?p=29938"},"modified":"2017-02-27T06:02:24","modified_gmt":"2017-02-27T11:02:24","slug":"we-davened-as-rockets-fell-yossi-katz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/israel\/we-davened-as-rockets-fell-yossi-katz\/","title":{"rendered":"We Davened<\/em> As Rockets Fell"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am not naive.\u00a0I know what is going on and by no means do I intend to\u00a0minimize the gravity of the situation. In fact, I will not be learning with\u00a0my chavrusa\u00a0<\/em>(study partner) today for he is now at his base readying for whatever may lay\u00a0ahead.<\/p>\n

All I intend to do is put some of my thoughts to paper.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Chazan<\/em> (Jewish cantor) chanted Retzei<\/em> during Mussaf today. I slipped off my shoes and made my way to the front of the Beis Medrash<\/em> (study hall). As I began to ascend the\u00a0stairs to bless the congregation, a siren began to wail.<\/p>\n

But we did not stop.<\/p>\n

The Chazan<\/em> called out “Cohanim <\/em>(Preists),” his voice muffled by his Talis\u00a0<\/em>(prayer shawl).\u00a0The ground shook beneath us, a loud boom reverberating throughout the Beis\u00a0Medresh<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But we did not falter.<\/p>\n

“Yivarechicha<\/em>” we sung and the ground shook once more. Hashem….<\/p>\n

We ended with “Shalom<\/em>,” blessing the Jewish people with Peace.\u00a0The siren had not stopped and the ground was still vibrating from the\u00a0barrage of rockets<\/a>.\u00a0I descended down the stairs and I realized something more profoundly than\u00a0ever before.<\/p>\n

They could<\/em> not<\/em> stop us.<\/p>\n

These rockets have been disturbing our davening\u00a0<\/em>(praying) for thousands of years.\u00a0Whether they came disguised as a Greek or a Roman, a Crusader or a Cossack,\u00a0a Nazi or a Terrorist–we have not failed.<\/p>\n

The rockets will ultimately fail! The terror will falter!<\/p>\n

Yet Our Birchat Kohanim<\/em>\u00a0(priestly\u00a0blessing) will go on. It will endure just as it has for\u00a0thousands of years.<\/p>\n

I felt a connection to our mesorah<\/em> (tradition) this morning like never before.<\/p>\n

I gained a better understanding this morning of what is Torat Chaim<\/em>, a living Torah.<\/p>\n

And I realized this morning that we will prevail, for that is\u00a0the will of G-d.<\/p>\n

\n

Tell us your stories<\/a> about living In Israel under the specter of war and rockets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be your story or something you’ve heard from a friend or loved one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My daughter told me her friend in the IDF is on his last day. \u00a0He’s hoping it won’t get extended.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Relax, don’t worry. \u00a0Israel always wins.” My friend tried to reassure me.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

My daughter’s school is preparing them with drills.<\/em><\/p>\n

Support each other with your shared experiences<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The OU and RCA express support<\/a> for Israel’s defense of innocent lives along Israel’s southern border. They\u00a0call upon all supporters of Israel to engage in extra Torah study, prayer, political action, and charity<\/a> in support of Israel’s soldiers and civilians in this battle.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yossi Katz<\/strong> is learning this year at Keren b’Yavneh, a <\/em>Hesder\u00a0yeshiva, several miles northeast of Gaza.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With rockets in the background and faith in every word. This is my story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":881,"featured_media":55745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,1],"tags":[99],"class_list":["post-29938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration","category-israel","tag-gaza-strike"],"yoast_head":"\nWe Davened As Rockets Fell - OU Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The rockets will ultimately fail! The terror will falter! 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