Miraculous Hakafot Celebration Marks Third Year at Gaza Border Outpost

For the third consecutive year, a special Simchat Torah celebration, known as "second Hakafot" (circuit dances with Torah scrolls), will be held at the Foga outpost, a forward position that became a symbol of sacrifice and fierce fighting during the October 7th attacks. The tradition began as a surprising and emotional full-circle moment, as recounted by Rabbi Yoni HaRosh, head of the Bnei Akiva Hesder Yeshiva in Be'er Sheva.

On the day the war broke out, Rabbi HaRosh, who also serves as a rabbi in the Maglan commando unit, was with his students and their families. While many students were called to combat, Rabbi HaRosh remained due to his responsibilities. The battle at Foga, led by outpost commander Dekel Suissa, became a widely publicized example of unwavering devotion. During the intense fighting and evacuation of casualties, Yossi Blonder, part of a medical team from the 55th Brigade, vowed to organize second Hakafot at Foga the following year.

Rabbi HaRosh himself was involved in treating the fallen soldiers from Foga at a gas station in Kfar Aza, unaware of Blonder's promise. A year later, while serving in Lebanon, Rabbi HaRosh met Professor Sodi Namir, the former medical director of Gush Katif. Namir mentioned his friend Yossi Blonder and his vow to hold Hakafot at Foga. This led to a connection between Blonder and Rabbi HaRosh.

During their conversations, Blonder discovered that Rabbi HaRosh had treated the very casualties he had evacuated under fire. The rabbi had arrived at the gas station just hours after Blonder had left the fallen soldiers there. This revelation brought Blonder immense relief, as he had carried guilt for a year over leaving them at that spot. The phone call facilitated a profound closure for him, allowing him to inform the families of the fallen about the subsequent care their loved ones received.

"It was a miraculous full circle," Rabbi HaRosh stated. The first Hakafot ceremony took place at the gas station, bringing together Rabbi HaRosh, his students, Yossi Blonder, and Dekel Suissa's father and family. The following year, the event grew, with Dekel's family inviting friends. Singer Aharon Raziel joined after hearing Dekel Suissa's name, revealing a personal connection through a sticker with one of Dekel's sayings in his Talmud.

Rabbi HaRosh described the poignant transition at the ceremony from remembering Dekel and the fallen soldiers to dancing with the Torah scroll Dekel had rescued during the battle, a transition that mirrors the shift from Memorial Day to Independence Day in Israel.