Phone Calls With Soldiers Inspire New Book of Torah Teachings

A new book, "Ta'ameihem Chaim Zachu" (Those Who Taste Them Live and Attain), compiles short Torah insights delivered by Rabbi Aryeh Stern, a former rabbi at the Kerem B'Yavneh Yeshiva, to soldiers serving in the IDF. These brief phone conversations, sometimes occurring minutes before combat, were initiated by students seeking spiritual encouragement from their rabbi while in active service.

Rabbi Stern explained in the book's preface that he sought to adhere to the principle of delivering concise Torah lessons, especially in the context of brief phone calls. He noted the students' desire to remain connected to their yeshiva and Torah studies even during their military service, emphasizing that these teachings provide them with the strength and fortitude needed for their missions.

Nati Yunger, one of Rabbi Stern's students, compiled these teachings into the book. He described how the initiative began with soldiers asking for "a small Torah insight" they had learned. Yunger collected these insights throughout his military service, particularly during the "Swords of Iron" war, documenting them in various locations and situations, including during challenging periods and even shortly before major attacks.

Yunger stressed that the book is not a verbatim transcription of the phone calls but rather a record of what the students grasped from the conversations. He believes this approach preserves the essence of the experience, as the primary benefit lies in the student's reception of the teaching rather than just the rabbi's delivery.

The book aims to maintain the continuity of Torah study, encouraging readers to always return to the beginning, symbolized by the Torah portion "Bereishit" (In the Beginning), even after completing the annual cycle with "Vezot HaBracha" (And This Is The Blessing).