IDF rabbi in Woodmere

IDF motivational lecturer Rabbi Shalom Hammer explained on Sunday that there is a huge difference between the lifestyles in the United States and in Israel.

“While kids in the U.S. are going onto buses to summer camp, our kids go on buses to the cemetery,” he told his audience at Congregation Bais Tefillah in Woodmere, referring to the funeral of the three kidnapped and murdered boys, Gilad, Eyal and Naftali.

Hammer served as a rabbi for the soldiers and their motivator. On a Friday night, when he was the only person at prayer, he asked, “Hashem, what am I doing here?” As if on cue, G-d was about to give him the answer.

After he finished his prayers, he went into the dining hall where he saw 75 soldiers eating and socializing. Rabbi Hammer realized that he needed to join in, but first he had to recite the blessing of Kiddush on his wine. As Rabbi Hammer, their commanding office, stood to make his blessing, all 75 soldiers, most of whom knew little about Judaism, stood in silence and then responded “Amen.” At that moment, Rabbi Hammer realized why he was sent to this place.

Rabbi Hammer related Prime Minister Netanyahu’s message to terrorists who attempt to destroy Israel and its people — “You destroy? Okay, we’ll build another settlement.” Rabbi Hammer added, “Jews build and construct. If we didn’t, we’d be gone.”

Discussing the tragedy of the fallen soldiers, he explained it’s “not just the physical person who died. It’s their potential.” These soldiers are civilians. They have families, wives, children. They have potential as a human being in addition to risking their lives to protect the land they call their home.

Rabbi Hammer said that “the essence of purity reveals itself in war.” People realize the love they need to give to their loved ones, and understand how valuable a single life is.

With that he concluded with a sentence that left chills up listeners’ spines:

“We have to learn how to unite without war.”