Good News Friday

Despite the frustration and anger over UNESCO’s insane resolution yesterday, or maybe because of it, I feel I must post a Good News Friday installment today to soothe our frazzled nerves.

Techiya Litman and Ariel Biegel at their wedding

The first item is the wonderful news that Techiya Sarah Beigel, the daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Litman who was murdered just a year ago together with his son Netanel, Techiya’s brother, when the family were on their way to celebrate the Shabbat Chatan before Techiya’s wedding, gave birth to a baby girl – on Yom Kippur!

Mazal Tov!

A daughter was born this evening to Sarah Tehiya Beigel and her husband Ariel. Tehiya’s father, Rabbi Yaakov Litman, as well as her brother, Netanel, were murdered 11 months ago by terrorists as they drove south of Hevron towards Meitar, where they were to attend a traditional pre-wedding Shabbat celebration which the groom is called to the Torah during the morning service.

This wonderful news brought tears to my eyes. After the horrific terror attack and the loss of her father and brother, and then the postponed wedding, what better way to start the year, and to bring healing to the family and to Am Yisrael who participated in their mourning and in their joy.

I wish heartiest mazal tov to Techiya and Ariel. May your baby daughter grow up to be a strong, healthy, and continue in the steadfast Torah way of her grandfather Hy’d and her family. יהי רצון שתזכו לגדלה לתורה, לחופה ולמעשים טובים.

Still Yom Kippur related, here is a beautiful story about the generous spirit of one Israeli congregation, posted by Marshall Deltoff in the Only in Israel Facebook group:

Our shul decided to hold yizkor services at 5:30 yesterday afternoon, instead of the typical morning timeslot right before Mussaf, in order to allow more non-observant people to attend and remain for Neilah. As the chazan was just starting into the introductory prayer for Mussaf, an elderly gentleman with a walker, accompanied by a caregiver, entered the sanctuary from the back door and started to make his way up the central aisle toward the bimah. He asked a few of us at the back when Yizkor was starting, and when we told him it would be at 5:30, he was visibly distraught. We called the gabbai over, and the elderly gentleman explained that he was handicapped, and it was quite an effort for him to get over to shul, in order for him to say Yizkor for his father. The gabbai walked over to the chazan, whispered something in his ear, and the chazan then announced to the over 200 congregants that we were going to hold the “first” yizkor service now. The gabbai directed the old man to a seat next to the bimah, and the entire congregation watched silently as the man recited Yizkor for his father in russian and hebrew. No one complained, commented or said a thing. It was beautiful and powerful. The old man and his aide then went to the back of the auditorium and took a seat. Without batting an eyelash, the chazan picked up right where he left off. It was a privilege to see this, and made our Yom Kippur special. ONLY IN ISRAEL.

According to Marshall’s comment the shul service was run by the Amit congregation B’reishit at the Yad L’Banim in Karmiel, led by Rabbi Jaron Englemeyer.

Truly this is the spirit of Yom Kippur and this is the true spirit of Am Yisrael at its best. Kol hakavod to the entire Kehilla on their generosity and patience. Tizku Lemitzvot!

And one more item still (sort of) in the spirit of Yom Kippur (via Israellycool) –  Israeli girls apologize to the world. Really! 😀

After that giggle, or even a healthy guffaw, I’m sure you’re all feeling much more in the mood to welcome another Shabbat squashed in between two festivals, as we rush headlong into Sukkot on Sunday night.

Shabbat Shalom everyone!