Special Message Concerning Israel with Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg of Yeshiva of Flatbush

JM in the AM. My thanks by Goldwasher. And again, we are live on a Monday, blizzard Monday. We're live on this 26th of January, 8th day in the month of Shabbat. But that was Rabbi Goldwer's discussion for us uh this past Monday, a week ago on Roesh. That's why he mentioned that it was Roesh. And that is the explanation. Janam, good morning. Hour number two on this Monday as we um broadcast and open up the week here at JMA. This portion of NSN programming is brought to you by our friends at A&H. Enjoy 10% discount on all Ables and products at kosherog.net with promo code radio. A&H serve has been serving the Jewish world, the kosher world since 1954 and A&H products are available at better kosher supermarkets nationwide. Try A&H today. You'll be glad you did. So, we invited her by Dr. David Herzburg back on the air. We had just had him on in advance of the Yeshiva Flatbush student trip to Israel. You may recall. We used it as an opportunity to encourage schools and shs and groups and men's clubs and sisterhoods to plan trips to Israel. But Rabbi Herzburg said something to me off the air once he returned a couple of days ago that I felt was an important enough message to actually broadcast to the audience and to relay to everybody who actually cares about our brothers and sisters in Israel. Rabbi Dr. David Herzburg, a pleasure to welcome you back to JM and the AM. >> Thank you. A pleasure to be here on this uh rather bleak day. [laughter] >> Well, weatherwise it's bleak. Otherwise, hopefully things are looking up. So, I mean, it's it's an understatement to say that the trip in retrospect was a success, right? You would say it was a resounding success. >> Truly, and the kids were amazing. Each kid found their best version of themselves and really stepped up to the >> plate. Pretty amazing. And it was a very large group, folks. You may recall it was a record-breaking group that by Herzburg and the other faculty members and parents took along to Israel. you came back with a message that you said to me off the air that I thought was worth broadcasting to everybody. Um, and it had to do with uh the um the reaction of our brothers and sisters in Israel to your group being there in January of 2026. Tell the audience what that message was and how much it made an impact on you. >> So, it was pretty eyeopening. you know this trip that Rabbi Besser has been leading for years since the second in Tifada but has taken on new meaning since the war. So when we got to the uh let's say the army bases but even people off the army bases one of the things that they said is thank you for coming now because during the height of the war there were lots of groups coming but now a lot of the groups have stepped back and they aren't having so many visits anymore and they're feeling I don't want to say a disconnect class but they're feeling that you know they they still need people to give them those hugs and to to be there and show that connect connection to them And there was that level of appreciation like these trips are still necessary these visits. I'm not saying super high-end barbecues like that. But that idea of the visit and the connection is needed more than ever. And that was a truly idle thing when some of those soldiers uh said that to me. >> Yeah. It's interesting because we always view our efforts and our presence in Israel really really vital during very difficult times and certainly times of war and times when other people are not traveling. because it's funny that they that their perspective was that you were coming during the war because you and I kept reminding people we're not going enough during the war. So, it's interesting that that was their reaction that you came during the war but you're not coming as much now. Uh but sometimes in the aftermath of everything when things are getting back to normal and I hope they are in Israel um because obviously with the Iranian threat etc. I don't know if anything could be normal at the moment but um but the reality is that they feel a a kinship. They feel a closeness to Jews of the diaspora uh when we make the effort and actually show up and express our love, care and concern for our brothers and sisters in Israel. And I guess by Herzburg, the conclusion is very simple. We've got to continue to go 12 months out of the year every year. Look, the the like one unit which is now going up north for two months of Miluim and I'm just talking to the reg my students that were talking to the regular guys and one guy is a PhD professor at Hebrew. The other guy I'm talking to is the doctor for two months. The other guy coming is the rabbi of the group and he's leaving his 10 kids for two months. These are still happening o over there and they you know these guys who are okay younger than we are now but older than the 18 and 19 year olds were dancing and and just needed that morale boost as well. And the other thing I I'd like to add is that every little thing that we do you never know what's going to make a difference. my bus driver slowmo, God bless, and best driver in Israel, I think, for our bus. He when he's not doing groups with us, he's working for the army. And he had asked me to bring flashlights to give to the soldiers because the soldiers in the don't they're using the iPhones like when they get back. Anyway, long story short, last time I was there, I gave him these little flashlights. He calls me the next morning and says at 1:30 in the morning, gave out these little flashlights that cost $6.95 a piece from Amazon. And he tells me 6:30 in the morning, the commander came and said that they already used those flashlights to catch two terrorists who are hiding in Bora. So there even a little thing like $6.95 flashlight makes a difference. >> Unbelievable. Um, do you ever I don't know if I've ever even asked you this question before. Do you ever run into alumni of yours? Did you ever run into whether it's in the army or reserves people that you taught who are now living in Israel and defending our country? We um well we we have a list of the students that the people that they might be active in the army now or in reserve and depending on the trip we sometimes try to meet up with them besides the kids are a learning gift for the year but with Flatbush's long legacy wherever we go we're bumping into somebody new somebody who who was connected to Flatbush you know that uh and even in the most random of places in the middle of nowhere so to speak you know there's going to be that uh that that I mean we're sitting in the middle of They wrote, you know, after you played with the school and three, four different people come over and no rabbi dust and maybe some shades, flatfish days, whatever. So, it's uh you know that it's a it's a big country and a small country at the same time like that. >> Yeah. What a small world we live in, especially in the Jewish world. So, the message is really simple, everybody. That's why Herzburg is on this morning. He discovered he discovered it was said directly to him that it's not only during times of war and when we're hearing unfortunately bad news every day even when we're not hearing any news on a regular basis. The reality is that uh the boys and men are um are in Miloim are in reserves and they are serving and there and it's difficult. it's not easy on them and their families and uh the more we visit and the more we go even during peace time or even during a quieter time um the more all of this is appreciated. So, as I always say, take the example of Yeshiva Flatbush and their parents and students and faculty members and arrange your own trip with your school, with your synagogue, with your sisterhood, with your men's club, with your organization. And our Herzburg, as usual, you're offering to uh spend time via email >> to with anybody who would like more information about how to put all these trips together and who to see and what to do and how to maximize your time. You're ready to discuss this with anybody? >> Absolutely. be my be my pleasure and my mitzvah. >> Uh, and the email address if someone wanted to reach you is >> derzburg with a t d h e rt zb rg atlbush.org. >> We appreciate the dasham from our brothers and sisters in Israel that you brought back. Thank you so much, Rabbi Herzburg. >> Thank you. Have a great day. >> There he is. Right. Dr. David Herzburg, yeshiva Flatbush, who it looks like will reopen tomorrow along with the majority of our schools and along with the majority of our yeshiva since we're in the middle of this recovery from the 1 foot or more blizzard in the New York, New Jersey area. But those trips to Israel, we wonder if they're clichéish. We wonder if they're necessary. We wonder if they accomplish anything. I will never stop this message and I thank our Herzburg for joining me for with this message. how important it is to keep that corridor as active as possible between Israel and the diaspora. More coming up. It's 8 Cats and you're listening to JM in the AM.