War with Hamas

Program for children from the congregation to pass the time in fun yet protected place.

October 29, 2023

Dear Friend,

Last week the Home Front Command opened up schools and offices in much of the country, with some restrictions. At the beginning of the week, we were expecting to have a partial school schedule. But by mid-week when the children were finally able to return, they had a full school schedule. Wednesday all three of the grandgirls were back in school. About 75% of the children in Roni’s school (1st through 6th grades) were in attendance. 

Many people here are experiencing great anxiety. Tina, the wife of one of our elders, is a primary care physician and she is inundated with patients experiencing anxiety and requesting medication. People are looking for comfort and strength. One unbeliever wrote to Shmuel asking for words of comfort and accepting the offer of a verse from the New Testament (2 Tim 1:7). The unbelieving mother of one of our young leaders, who is currently on the front lines, called looking for comfort and strength.

It is in times like these people experience their lack of control and recognize their need for hope. They discover that what they rely upon daily isn’t sufficient to meet their needs. Judges 3:1-2 states that the Lord didn’t continue to drive out the nations who were still in the land “in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war.” The Lord wasn’t concerned that they develop fighting skills. The context makes it clear that the issue was learning to serve the Lord and Him only.

Learning war isn’t about tactical and strategic proficiencies. And it encompasses more than just those doing the fighting. It’s about experiencing and dealing with fear, uncertainty, loss and grief. War shatters the illusion of our self-sufficiency and that we exercise control over our lives and circumstances. What we all so painstakingly cultivate – the illusion of knowing, controlling and acting – is challenged, disrupting our lives centered around the service of ourselves as our own “god”.

Our family has only moved to the bomb shelter once so far. Hezbollah has refrained from bombing Haifa (unlike the Second Lebanon war in 2006). Life has been disrupted for almost of three weeks, but schools and many offices are now reopened. But even in our situation here the uncertainty of what is going to happen next, the sudden need to change plans and inability to control things leave their mark. People are confronted with their inadequacy to deal with what’s happening, and our prayer is that this would cause them to truly turn to the Lord.

Yesterday several of our young soldiers who were home from the front lines for the weekend joined us for worship. Seeing them in field fatigues carrying their M16s and hearing what they’ve been experiencing was a vivid reminder that life isn’t “normal” at all. Michael is on the border with Lebanon. His unit is based at Rosh HaNikra. Hezbollah has hit their position several times with anti-tank missiles seeking to destroy the radar installation there. Lev-Achad (One-Heart) is in a tank repair unit. This past week he led a group to the area surrounding Gaza. And we were reminded of the young men, most of whom could not come home, fighting in Gaza right now.

The universities have delayed the start of the fall semester till the beginning of December, and may delay it further. Too many students are engaged in fighting the war to make giving classes worthwhile. I just spoke with a young man whose friends on the front lines aren’t planning to go back to studies right away due to what they’ve seen and experienced.

Those that aren’t serving in the IDF are looking for ways they can be engaged, volunteering or serving where they are able. Our young adults have been active in bringing hot meals and needed equipment to our soldiers and their units. It started with food, sleeping bags and socks. Then, a flood of generous donations has enabled us to supply much needed equipment to our soldiers’ battalions. In addition to their physical needs, we are looking at how we can help with their spiritual and psychological needs as well as those of their families.

In the meantime, our family is grieving the loss of Dasha with the added impact of this war on our souls. We’ve sought to shield the grandgirls as much as possible from videos, pictures and details, knowing that once things have been seen, they enter the soul and cannot be unseen. We’ve been able to continue their counseling and it is clear that they are mourning the loss of both of their parents and feel the instability that the war has added. Heidi and I have felt overwhelmed. We recognize how inadequate and clueless we are in helping them deal with the grief.

In these circumstances we are so grateful for your prayers. Our assurance is that no matter what happens, the Lord will cause all things to work for good. We stand assured that He will bring good out the evil intensions and deeds of the terrorists, Hamas and those standing with them and behind them. Thanks so much for standing beside us in this battle!

Yours in the Messiah,

Phil and Heidi