20 Years Later, a Bereaved Sister Finds a Moving Sense of Closure
Photo: Tahlit-Shlomi Midrasha 20 years later, a bereaved sister finds a moving sense of closure: "This is how we said goodbye" Eliyahu Amar, 17 minutes ago 0 0
Alongside Home Front Command directives in the northern sector, the Kosovski family is set to move to Shlomi ahead of the opening of the midrasha at the site in the next school year and to establish a midrasha in the community. For the head of the midrasha, Rabbi Bat-El Kosovski, the sister of Maj. Beniya Reine, of blessed memory, who fell in the Second Lebanon War, the move to the northern border represents a personal and family closure of two decades. "Relocating to Shlomi is a direct continuation of what he began," she says.
In a turbulent week filled with sirens and interceptions in the border area, there is good and hopeful news from the community of Shlomi on the border. This week, the Kosovski family signed its housing contract in the community in preparation for the establishment of a new religious girls' midrasha, Tahlit-Shlomi Midrasha. The move is planned ahead of the opening of the next school year, when the midrasha will open with about 35 students who have already completed the registration process for the new institution, headed by Rabbi Bat-El Kosovski. 1 + Photo: Tahlit-Shlomi Midrasha
The initiative to establish the midrasha was born after an appeal from the community leadership and residents to the midrasha in Acre, asking it to open an additional branch for girls before and after national service in Shlomi. The community, which has experienced prolonged upheaval over two and a half years of evacuation to hotels across the country and rocket, UAV, and drone attacks, is currently undergoing community rehabilitation processes. According to the project leaders, the midrasha is intended to serve as a spiritual and social anchor that will help strengthen the civilian resilience of residents returning to their homes.
"We feel there needs to be a strong home front there. If we have the ability to come as a strong family, and also with a group of girls who will add strength, a positive atmosphere, and be part of the community, then, 'Here I am,'" says the rabbi.
For Rabbi Kosovski, the choice to leave central Israel, with the family costs and the geographic distance from her parents, comes with historical and family significance. Kosovski is the daughter of Hagit and Shimon Reine, and the sister of Maj. Beniya Reine, commander of the "Beniya Force" armored unit, who fell in battle in Lebanon in 2006.
"My last connection with Beniya was on his way to base," Kosovski recalls the meeting that took place 20 years ago. "We spoke about the mission before him, defending the residents of the north. Those were the exact words with which we said goodbye. For me, moving to Shlomi and establishing the midrasha at this point in time is a direct continuation of what he began, and a closing of a circle of responsibility for this area."
1 + Photo: Tahlit-Shlomi Midrasha
It appears that the situation on the ground and the responsibility for the rebirth of the north are deeply felt by the girls who recently enrolled in the midrasha. The security assessments have already affected the midrasha's activity in its initial stages, when the official introductory day with the students, which was planned to take place in Shlomi, was moved at the last moment to the city of Acre due to severe gathering restrictions. But despite this, demand from students remained steady, showing the seriousness and sense of mission among those who enrolled.
At the midrasha, the study method is defined as "Torah that leads to action," combining theoretical study with active involvement in the life of the local community in Shlomi. In parallel with the intake of the girls, the midrasha is calling on additional families to move to the Western Galilee, with the aim of creating a broad civilian nucleus that will join the efforts to rehabilitate the home front in the north.
Sister, study hall, north, bereaved, Shlomi 0 Write a comment
