In the Heart of Gaza, Shmura Matzah in Hand – IDF Soldiers Celebrated as the Rebbe Wants

During one of the most difficult periods the Jewish people have known, a moment of small redemption was recorded in the heart of the darkness – IDF soldiers, deep in the field and the fighting in Gaza, sat in abandoned houses, armed not only with weapons but also with faith, and in their hands were round, handmade Shmura Matzahs, celebrating the Pesach holiday.

In a complex and moving logistical operation, carried out by the ‘Ezer Lachayal’ organization from Kfar Chabad, no fewer than 5,100 round, handmade Shmura Matzahs were distributed, along with Haggadahs, bottles of grape juice, personal Seder kits, food, Kosher for Pesach snacks, and prayer kits.

For three weeks, the organization’s teams visited bases and forward positions along the Gaza border, and specifically for Division 36 which moved from the northern front to fight in the south, with the teams accompanying them as they entered the battle, as well as for Division 252 operating in central Gaza and the Rafah border, and the Gaza Division fighting in northern Gaza.

Behind the operation, this year too stood the Chassidic philanthropist R’ Menachem Gurevithz

from Crown Heights, a Chassid who is devoted to the soldiers and their families materially and spiritually throughout the year, for the Rebbe’s pleasure.

The project took place in memory of his brother, the Chassid R’ Chaim ben R’ Shmuel Gershon Nissan a”h, who worked extensively for “Mivtza Matzah” in the USA, and passed away while engaged in distributing Shmura Matzahs to Jews.

R’ Eliyahu Gutman, director of the ‘Ezer Lachayal’ organization, recounts with emotion:
“When you see a soldier in Gaza, sitting with his personal weapon on one side, and handmade Shmura Matzah in the other hand – you understand that the eternal nation is not afraid and Moshiach is already here