The Rabbi of the Shura Camp: "I Felt Like I Was Walking Among Angels"

Some people, from the very first conversation, you can tell they are of a different sort. These are people entirely dedicated to action and kindness. Their whole desire is to do good for another Jew.

Such is Rabbi David Ohanona, married with nine children. Rabbi Ohanona lives in Safed and officially serves as the Rabbi of Hermon Prison with the rank of Warden and Deputy Commander of the Review Company in the 157th Reserve Brigade (Command Burial Unit) with the rank of Major.

Unofficially, the Rabbi volunteers as a medic in United Hatzalah, ZAKA, the Chevra Kadisha in Safed, and the emergency department at Ziv Medical Center in Safed.

Sleeping Two Hours a Night

Where are we catching the Rabbi?

"We have just completed a three-day training for the soldiers who arrived as part of 'Stage B,' so they can integrate into identifying the fallen."

With your permission, let's go back to Shabbat, Simchat Torah. Where does the war find you, Rabbi?

"During the holiday, they tried to reach me several times, but only on Saturday night did they succeed. They told me there's chaos. Usually, in emergencies, we activate 'Order Eight' for only 12 soldiers, but this time I told the callers to enlist the entire company. Once enlisted, we would go wherever we were needed.

"Initially, I arrived at Tzipori Camp – that's our staging point. The next morning, before dawn, the entire company set out for Shura Camp."

How did you understand that this time you needed to recruit everyone?

"Throughout the holiday, we heard rumors, and unfortunately, I have experience in this, so I understood it was a serious event whose scale was unknown, which is why I said to enlist everyone."

You arrive at Shura, and the numbers keep growing. How do you handle something like that?

"Most of my company never dealt with fallen before. This was the first time the soldiers saw so many fallen, both civilians and military. Still, despite never having seen fallen, they entered the 'mode' of work, as if they had been doing it all along. They understood the magnitude of our mission, the work and responsibility, and executed it successfully.

"During the first week and a half there, we slept one to two hours a night," the Rabbi shares.

Walking Among Angels

How did the work proceed?

"In the first three days, we worked on IDF fallen, and when the pressure subsided, we began assisting in identifying civilians. Before moving to civilians, together with the battalion's mental health officer, we had a talk with all the soldiers. I told them these would be difficult scenes, different from IDF fallen. Whoever can join should come, and whoever can't – say so now.

"Indeed," the Rabbi continues, "almost half the battalion chose not to deal with civilians because of the scenes and stayed to assist with the IDF fallen."

And what about you, Rabbi, how do you cope with the sights?

"I've been through a lot," the Rabbi answers briefly, "I was in the Second Lebanon War, Operation Protective Edge, Operation Pillar of Defense, and terrorist attacks. The quantities are very different, but you do it. Because ultimately, I want to stand before the family, and when they ask me 'Did you do your utmost to bring the soldier to a sacred burial in Israel?' I'll say with a quiet heart that I did my utmost. I felt like I was walking among angels, holy ones who sacrificed their lives for the sanctification of Hashem's name. That's what gave me strength."

What moment will stay with the Rabbi forever?

The Rabbi thinks for a moment and finally answers: "There's no single moment, it's a process that stays with you. That's what makes you more professional and sensitive."

What lesson from this whole event, of dealing with the fallen, does the Rabbi take into life?

"With everything we thought and planned and prepared and everything we went through – the conclusion is, unfortunately, we need to prepare more. Unfortunately, we need to prepare for a potentially larger number of fallen."

The Prisoners Join the Effort

Does the Rabbi manage to separate work at Shura Camp and family life at home?

"I won't go into the descriptions of what I saw at the camp, but as soon as I finish there, I go to hug my children," answers Rabbi Ohanona. "That's the first thing. It's okay to cry. That's fine, and that's what I did. Family is an anchor. I don't share what I see, but my wife is a full partner. She knows you see things and says 'I am here for you to do the sacred work.' We live in Safed, and there were sirens; she's the one with the children in the shelter. Sometimes schools are open, sometimes they're closed, but despite all that, she doesn't share difficulties. She allows doing the sacred work. That's also what gives strength."

And what about the prisoners, did the Rabbi find time to visit the prison?

"Indeed, I found the time to come, talk to the prisoners and roam the various wings. It is appropriate to mention the understanding of the prison service command – they do not interfere with my work, and even though they could ask me to remain in my role as a Rabbi at the prison service, they allow me to work at Shura."

How are the prisoners reacting to the spirit of the times?

"The prisoners are joining," answers the Rabbi, "they light 'Neshama' candles, recite Psalms for the success of the soldiers. They feel they're contributing, even if a bit, to the war effort. Together with 'Hidabroot,' we held a Tefillin campaign, which prompted many to don tefillin and resonated widely."

What is the Rabbi's message from this period?

"We've been through a crisis, and from crises, we grow," the Rabbi responds resolutely, "the unity that emerged from the crisis must continue every day. We are brothers."