The Historic Mobilization of October 7th in One Building

I woke up to the sounds of distant booms, and went outside to check it out. I saw what looked like the iron dome in action, intercepting what I assumed were rockets from Gaza. I did not think much of it as I have witnessed that scene many times from the same place in Beit Shemesh, and went back inside for the Simchat Torah davening.

What is unique about Simchat Torah in Yeshiva is that everyone attends. Not just current students but Rabbis, staff, alumni, and even families show up for the occasion to celebrate. As everyone was observing the holiday, no one was on their phones and everyone was disconnected from the outside world, even with rockets being launched. The only rumor going around was that the son of a member of the community who was in a secret unit was called back. But it didn’t raise much concern. The mood stayed light, and nobody really thought much of it. 

Eventually, we heard our first siren, and everyone packed into the shelter. While some students were uneasy due to it being their first time in Israel, but again, the atmosphere was pretty calm. Sirens hadn’t been heard in Beit Shemesh for a few years, but it wasn’t unheard of. Most people just assumed there was a bit of action from Gaza and figured we’d get the full story once the holiday ended that night.

The sirens continued throughout the morning, and people were starting to get irritated of the interruptions, and suspicions began to arise. Remember -- no one was on their phones. 

Everything changed when the head of the Yeshiva got up after one of the sirens and announced that there were in fact events going on around Gaza. Now, my Yeshiva is a "Hesder Yeshiva," which means that the soldiers there learn Torah first, draft to the army, and come back to learn afterwards. So there was a mix of active soldiers, former soldiers, soldiers in training, family of soldiers, anything you can imagine. He continued that while he did not have details, every soldier that was off base for the holiday and celebrating in Yeshiva should go back and check their phones to see if they were called back to base. 

I honestly thought it was an overreaction, because how would these soldiers even get back to base? Public transportation doesn't run on Shabbat, and none of them had cars. At the same time, I saw one of my friends who was an active soldier in his uniform, gun, and backpack, getting ready to go back to base. He told me he had been called, and was getting ready to go with a Rabbi from the Yeshiva to a pickup point in Jerusalem. That was when I knew something real may actually be taking place. 

I do not know the exact timeline of when I heard what, but I don't think those details are important. What I do know is that over the course of the day, details of what was going on were trickling in slowly. First, that there was some kind of invasion from Gaza, but a small one. But the numbers kept rising as the day went on, as was my confusion, bewilderment and uncertainty. I served on the Gaza border about a year before, and I knew it to be very safe. There were advanced cameras, tanks, planes, soldiers, and constant surveillance. How could even a small invasion occur?

While the news slowly broke, again, incomplete with most not checking their phones, so did the mobilization. First, like my friend before, the active soldiers were called back. Soldiers in their uniforms organizing carpools with others going to the same place or even soldiers in their unit with a car who can pick them up. 

Next, the soldiers who were towards the end of their training. 

Then came the soldiers who had just drafted just weeks before, indicating every active soldier was being mobilized. 

After them, the soldiers who were just released but still technically active, a stage in the army for emergency situations like this. 

The day was a whirlwind of trying to upkeep the sanctity of the day, with trying to figure out what you were supposed to do. Davening eventually ended and it was time for lunch, and most people did not have it in them to eat.

By Mincha, the afternoon prayers, the Yeshiva was a lot emptier due to all of these people having left. That was when not just active soldiers but reserve soldiers were on standby. Some were already called, some were on standby, and some knew it was just a matter of time.

While the day of October 7th was of course chaotic and tragic, one of the most inspiring aspects was the immediate mobilization and fight back. Seeing every soldier, from every stage of life, find a way back, any way he could without any hesitation for the sake of the nation was truly inspiring. Scenes of fathers saying goodbye to their sons, proud of them but also scared for what was to come. Former soldiers who were now husbands and fathers answering the call, even though they had every reason to stay behind. These scenes in just one building, represented the mass mobilization of fighters of our whole nation that took place, and showed how committed the people of our nation really are to protecting and standing up for country.

This is the strength I took with me the very next day, when I myself was headed 3 hours back to a random base the very next day, of course driven up by a guy in the community who wanted to help out. That's who we are as a people. As we approach Pesach, we are reminded of the famous teaching, that just as you do not wait let Matzot become Chametz, so to you do not let Mitzvot become Chametz, and you should do them right away.  That day, that quality of our people was exemplified across the country, and paved the way for the success we have been achieving ever since.