13/11/2023
As the Jewish nation girds itself for battle, Kesher Tefillin is shifting its focus.
Our sages (חז"ל) teach us that tefillin are the ultimate weapon and shield. Jewish soldiers are going into battle – they will be facing unimaginable spiritual and physical challenges. Our soldiers want tefillin – a spiritual buttress, a handhold to help them connect.
Four cartons of tefillin are already in the hands of soldiers via the religious council (המועצה הדתית) -- maybe somebody even put them on today! The need is incredible – with HaShem’s help, we will give just a bit of chizuk to our soldiers.
Perhaps you or your associates might consider taking a “chelek” (a little part) in this? I believe we could need hundreds of pairs of tefillin!
One of my contacts told me that she didn't have the "bandwidth" to address our Tefillin project -- their community is raising money to buy an ambulance. I told her that we are providing "spiritual ambulances" to our soldiers. You cannot imagine how they are thirsting, searching, for this spiritual "touchstone".
Please join us in this initiative. Materials for each pair of tefillin currently cost 1400 NIS (about $350). It is also possible to underwrite just the parshios, which is 850 NIS (about $212), or the retzuos, which is 180 NIS (about $45). At this point Kesher Tefillin is assembling the tefillin ourselves at no cost. Depending on the response we may need to hire additional hands which would be added to the cost – helping the struggling local economy would also be a good thing!
In the USA, tax deductible contributions can be made to Kesher Tefillin by US credit card at: https://www.kesher-tefillin.com/donate/ or via Zelle at the following address: [email protected].
In Israel, donations can be transferred to our Amuta "Kesher Tefillin" at Bank Mizrahi Tefachot, branch 562, account 142595.
Note that our project is officially under the auspices of Rabbi Aryeh Stern, the chief rabbi of Jerusalem, and Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu, the chief rabbi of Tzfat. We have letters of approval and support from a long list of other rabbanim worldwide including Rabbi Nissimy Karelitz ztz”l, Rabbi Yisrael Belsky ztz'l, the Noveminsker Rebbi, ztz'l and many more.
With HaShem’s help, may we hear besoros tovos!
Noah