Sasha & Sapir – Thank You!

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen were hosted by Rabbi Shmulik and Mrs. Tzivie Greenberg at Chabad of Clark County, Washington, where they shared their stories with hundreds in attendance. I was so deeply moved by their words and presence that I wrote this public letter of gratitude to them:

Dear Sasha & Sapir,

Meeting you on Tuesday night at Chabad of Clark County and being touched by your class, grace, and elegance profoundly impacted me. Thank you.

You are a prince and princess of our people, embodying the essence of who we are meant to be.

You transcended your environments and experiences in ways that seem almost impossible.

You experienced the depths of human betrayal, lying under your bed in a kibbutz, hoping somehow not to be discovered. Yet you remain able to trust, connect, and hold eye contact with every person you meet.

You were hit, kicked, and abused, lying in blood on the streets of Gaza, and returned with a deeper appreciation for life and each other.

As you shared your experience of being caged like an animal, I was struck by what a deeply thoughtful human being you are. You remained hopeful and reflective, without a trace of bitterness.

You told us how, as you were being buried alive in underground tunnels, you were able to find humor and purpose by caring for a girl a few years younger than yourself.

You both shared how, in order to survive the mental agony you endured, you created space to pray for and care about the well-being of others.

You bore the suffering of our entire people, and came back with a far stronger sense of Jewish connection and identity.

It wasn’t just that you found G-d in the tunnels. It was that you brought Him out with you.

You’ve resolved to keep Shabbat, to have a Jewish wedding, and are committed to having no fewer than five children (G-d willing!).

It was an honor to be in your presence.

Hearing you tell your story was also a responsibility. You shared the pain and trauma you experience each time you retell it. Yet you do so, so that we will take greater pride in who we are.

We can only aspire to be like you: to become more loving in the face of hatred, to create trust where there is trauma, and to allow life’s most difficult moments to bring us closer to our identity and purpose as Jews.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

With profound admiration and gratitude,

Rabbi Motti Wilhelm