Sivan Rahav Meir: Welcome to the Two New Residents of the Golan Heights

1.

Have you been to the Golan Heights? Have you updated yourselves on what's happening there? This week I spoke with Yaakov Shelev, the deputy head of the Golan regional council. He reports that more than 2,000 rockets have been fired at the Golan since 10/7, from Lebanon and also from Iraq through Syria.

The residents, as is known, made an ethical and strategic decision: not to evacuate. In every survey and every discussion that was conducted, more than 90% wanted to stay. When the cease-fire was declared, Yaakov thought it was time to recover and talk about the return of tourism to the area by Tu Bishvat. But then it became clear how much Hezbollah was hit, and suddenly Syria fell, and mainly it became clear – the nation is with the Golan. "I was stunned," he says. "Owners of guesthouses and hotels started receiving bookings the very next day. Kibbutz Ortal has over 70% occupancy. On Friday, I saw lines at our hummus places and wineries. And the most beautiful part is that this is ideological tourism. A family from Petah Tikva came and said: We intentionally came with nothing, not even water bottles, to buy everything here, to support and strengthen you. Since the IDF has been in Syria, we feel much safer, seeing with our own eyes the forces controlling and cleansing the area".
In the spirit of Chanukah, the festival of lights, we need to shine a light for a moment on the Golan Heights and its residents. To stop, say thank you, and appreciate. To tell the story to ourselves correctly.

But Yaakov adds another optimistic and important perspective. If last year he couldn't sleep at night because of sirens, now he can't sleep at night because of the baby born to him and his wife. Tal, their firstborn. At the brit milah, he told the audience about the birth, which happened when he and his wife were in the central region, and what he discovered: "We arrived at Tel HaShomer. Sorry, the receptionist told us, there is an unusual birth load here. It's the middle of the night, and there's a moment of breakdown. We are after 10 hours of waiting in the lobby, with dozens of other couples, and we start to feel around. Call to the doctor in Beilinson, unusual birth load. Ichilov – unusual load. Hadassah Ein Kerem – unusual load. I felt like I was in a post by Sivan Rahav-Meir," he laughed.

"I look at the dozens waiting, and tell myself: Wow, what a privilege. This baby boom is quite a statement. Something huge is happening here, and we are part of it. What a nation. A nation that desires life, overcoming deadly and horrible blows over and over, and always chooses life. 'Do not rejoice over me, my enemy, though I have fallen, I have arisen.' We've risen. And we continue. Like the dew that never stops, like the dew that descends in the middle of the darkest night, bringing growth and blooming. Tal, our sweet child, welcome to the eternal nation".

Not that it needs another echoing punchline, but this week, the head of the Golan Heights council, Uri Kelner, also had his first son, Kerem David, born. Mazal tov to the two new residents of the Golan.

2.

The health system is also writing one of its most magnificent chapters in its history. It too deserves to be highlighted. This week, I heard an emotional eulogy from a nurse that reveals a glimpse of what's happening in the various departments since Simchat Torah. Thank you.

It happened on Wednesday afternoon, at Mount Herzl. A memorial thirty days after the passing of Reservist Sgt. Yona Barif. Yona was seriously injured when saving the residents of Kfar Aza on Simchat Torah, and 13 bullets penetrated his body. He was the only soldier in continuous intensive care since 10/7 and passed away a month ago after a long struggle.

Moriah Silman, an intensive care nurse at Sheba, received him as an "anonymous" patient. Unknown. She bid him farewell this week almost as a family member.

"Yona," began nurse Moriah, "Not long ago, I read a sentence that describes you exactly: 'I like the man who smiles while fighting.' You didn't like being called a hero (even though that's what you are), but you agreed to the title 'fighter.' And oh, how you fought. Every day was a different battle, always with a smile.

"I don't think I ever saw you angry, and after all, you had so many reasons. I didn't see in you the measure of anger, you bore no grudge, you always looked at the positive, at what is there, without focusing on what isn't. Always only how to move forward and what's next.

"You were surrounded by family, friends, and visitors until the wee hours of the night. I used to ask you: Well, have you finished receiving guests today, Baba-Yona??"

Hundreds of people listened, and left a little better. Maybe we should broadcast all these meaningful ceremonies live. And maybe, in general, we should broadcast live from the rehabilitation departments, what's still happening there every day. "I don't think you knew how many lives were saved because of you, not just on Simchat Torah," she continued to describe this very special wounded. "How many protocols and treatment methods changed thanks to you. How many lives you saved, even from your bed in intensive care. Before your second leg was amputated, I came to you and said: Yona, I am about to cross the nurse-patient boundary officially. I said I love you and that you are important to me like a brother. Thank you for teaching me about the victory of spirit over body. For showing me what willpower, determination, and perseverance are. Thank you for so much laughter and joy, for a lesson in faith and love. You have made me a better nurse and a better person. See you".

3.

A few important reminders:

• Even in this week's Torah portion we read this Shabbat, Parashat Miketz in the book of Genesis, light begins to shine – Joseph is in prison in Egypt, in a dark and difficult situation. He is suddenly freed, interprets Pharaoh's dreams, and becomes a high-ranking official in the Egyptian palace. The direction of history is changing.
• What is the first sentence Joseph says to the king of Egypt? King Pharaoh tells him his dreams and asks for an interpretation. Joseph answers: "It is not in me; Hashem will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." In other words, I am just a conduit, my talents are from Hashem. He understands he is on a mission, and therefore he is so successful.
• Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to get food during a famine. The human instinct is to reveal himself to them, Joseph sees them and it seems natural that he would shout "I am Joseph, what did you do to me?" But Joseph restrains himself. He builds a test where the brothers will have to show that they have changed since they threw him into the pit. This way, he aims to bring unity and brotherhood to the family after the crisis.
• Commentators find a connection between the portion and Chanukah – dealing with foreign cultures. Both against Egypt and Greece. The challenge is to maintain Jewish spiritual independence and pride in our identity, even against powerful empires. The Greeks during Chanukah didn't want to kill us. They didn't care if we lived, they just didn't want us to live as Jews. The story was about decrees against identity and tradition. Joseph shone this light in Egypt, the Hasmoneans shone it in Chanukah, and it continues to shine.

The column was published in the "Yediot Aharonot" newspaper.