Devastation abounds in me. My entire moshav (settlement) in Israel has burned down and been destroyed. My parents and two of my brothers’ families lost their homes and all of their belongings recently, along with the entire community I grew up with. Cars were scorched and orchards were consumed.
My brother Sruli Solomon, a police officer, went door-to-door to ensure everyone was evacuated and accounted for in time. Witnesses said there was only a 15-minute window to evacuate; any longer and lives would have been lost. No one was hurt, so I’m thankful for this miracle, Baruch HaShem. Sruli also bravely went into the shul and grabbed all three sefer Torahs.
Growing up next door to Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, z”l, the legendary Jewish rabbi, teacher and musician, has shaped my life. I owe all of who I am to him and my parents and the experience of growing up in this incredibly artistic and musical village of love and prayer surrounded by nature. If there is any community that can recover emotionally from such devastating physical loss, it’s this one. The emunah (faith) of its community members is an example to all of Israel. But they need us now to help them resume their lives and rebuild.
The memories of what the moshav was are forever alive in me and in all of the children and members of the moshav. I look forward to a new moshav that we can all rebuild together.
Love and prayers,
Yehuda Solomon
To contribute to the rebuilding efforts click here.
