Srigim Resident Transports U.S. Yeshiva Letters

Within a week of the Oct. 7 terror assault, yeshivas across the U.S. sent many letters of support to IDF soldiers. Cultivating a nefesh yehudi begins at an early age, and an outpouring of support for Israel has proven to be universally inspiring. A special shout-out is in order for fifth graders at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway Queens, New York as their uplifting letters serve as a wonderful boon to the bravery of the IDF. 

Yeshiva Darchei Torah is a private Orthodox school in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. Courtesy of darchei.org

A mailing destination where these letters have arrived has been in Srigim, a moshav south of Beit Shemesh. Hila Bar, a Srigim resident, mother of six and a successful translator and editor, continues to help out immensely. In addition to essential drop–offs for soldiers, Hila has delivered letters to army bases in the south.“If anyone knows any fifth graders from Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, please tell them that their inspiring messages made their way safely to Israel and they will be on their way to the soldiers,” Hila wrote on her Facebook page on Dec. 21.

A letter of support written to IDF troops in Gaza by a 5th grade yeshiva student from Darchei Torah in Queens, NY has been picked up in Israel and delivered in recent weeks. Courtesy of Facebook.

“Every week, I pick up supplies and I drop them off at two bases in the south,” Hila told me. “This past Thursday, [my friend] Hillel, who prepares the spread for Shabbat Kiddush, gave me bunches of letters to put in each bag. I just want to let the [students] at Darchei Torah know that their letters came through. They are, indeed, being delivered to the soldiers. Little kids [often] draw pictures and write a few notes to soldiers. It’s very cute and it’s very good for the soldiers to read.” In a phone call to Darchei Torah, an administrator also told me that she was aware that these letters were received in Israel.

The Israel Forever Foundation is one of a handful of organizations, which help facilitate sending letters to IDF troops. Courtesy of israelforever.org

In December, around 24 shul communities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut paired up with various Israeli families and communities — all of whom were severely impacted by the Oct. 7 terror assault, as reported by Jewish News Syndicate. These groups visited bereaved, wounded and displaced Israeli citizens at hospitals, homes and on the frontlines. 

“I hope to do more, and I also plan on focusing on myself a bit more as I need to nurture myself, physically and spiritually, in order to function to help others,” says Hila. In November, Hila also told me that she will “continue to”offer [her translation services] for free to various groups, which have been formed by media professionals, such as video creators, writers, and those working in social media. [They must] convey Israel’s side of the story to the rest of the world. I hope translated promotional material [will be] appealing for donations, which will rebuild and restore the communities that have been devastated by the terrorist attacks.”