Beyond the Headlines: Sefer Torah at Rabin High School

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news

Gal Alush, widow of Dani zl

Sivan Rahav Meir with her mother-in-law, Ziva Meir

Two days after the October 7 massacre, Dani Alush, a devoted employee of the Israel Electric Company, went to repair power lines near the Avshalom junction in southern Israel. In the chaos that ensued, he was tragically killed by IDF fire.

“Dani went there to restore light, and his light will never be extinguished,” his family said. His wife, Gal, who serves as vice principal at Rabin High School in Be’er Sheva, decided to commemorate him in the place closest to her heart: by dedicating a Sefer Torah in his memory for the school.

This week, the streets of Be’er Sheva filled with dancing and singing as crowds accompanied the new Sefer Torah to the school. At the dedication ceremony, Gal shared these words:

“Tonight my soul is happy. This is the first time since Dani was killed that I’ve felt genuine happiness. I didn’t think I would ever feel this way again, but that is how I felt tonight. Thank you.”

Hundreds of people broke into applause. Among them was the mayor of Be’er Sheva, Ruvik Danilovich, who said that Dani had been a personal friend and that he misses him every day.

Gal went on to explain:“The decision to honor Dani’s memory through writing a Sefer Torah came naturally to us. The second decision, to give the Sefer Torah to a non-religious school instead of a synagogue, was less obvious, but for me it was very clear, for two reasons.

“First, knowing that Dani’s Sefer Torah will be close to me every day, and that I can hear it being read, brings me deep comfort.

“Second, and no less important, bringing a Sefer Torah into a secular school is, to me, even more moving and holy than donating it to a religious school or synagogue. In those places, a Sefer Torah is expected. Here, in a secular school where students can hear its words and read from it, the act feels many times more sacred and heartwarming.”

We are living in a new Jewish era. At Rabin High School, students have already read from their new Sefer Torah about our forefather Yaakov and the timeless lessons he passed on to his children and to all future generations—including us.

When Our Reactions Matter Most

It is now 8 years since the passing of Chani Weinrot, of blessed memory, an author and lecturer who inspired many as she faced a terminal illness with courage and faith.

Among her writings is one insight that feels especially relevant today:

“I discovered a phenomenon that amazed me. Every time someone shared difficult news with me, for most of our conversation they spoke not about the news itself, but about how the people around them reacted.

“They would say things like: ‘The doctor was so insensitive to what I was going through; I was crushed,’ or: ‘You cannot imagine how much my husband did for me and how devoted he was during this crisis.’

“Someone tells you that their life is falling apart, but what they keep returning to is the humanity, steadfastness, friendship, or lack of empathy shown by others. Is this an escape from reality? Absolutely not. For people going through pain, what interests them most is how those around them respond.

“Even for Iyov (Job), the biblical figure known for his capacity to endure suffering, the reaction of his friends was of critical importance.

“When someone hears terrible news, what shapes their inner world in that moment is the response of those near them. The way others react can truly be a matter of life and death.”

It is worth carrying this with us today. Pay attention to how you respond when someone shares their pain. Your reaction may mean far more than you realize. And may all our reactions, very soon, be only to good news.

Where Respect Really Begins

“We talk a lot about respecting our parents,” my mother-in-law, marriage and family counselor Ziva Meir, began at a joint event we led in Lod. “But from whom do we most need to receive respect?”

This year, the city of Lod chose respect as its educational theme: respect for parents, teachers, friends, the environment, and our heritage. At a gathering for hundreds of parents on the topic of honoring parents, Ziva posed that simple but piercing question:

“Above all, from whom do we need to receive respect?”

Her answer was surprisingly deep: not from our children, not from the community, not from social media, not even from our spouses — but from ourselves.

“We must respect ourselves,” she explained. “I am the first person who has to treat me with respect. Parents need to honor themselves and understand that they have a unique and holy role. A mother should feel a joyful sense of purpose in being a mother. A father needs to feel that raising his children is an immensely meaningful mission. When parents are convinced that the path they are taking is right and significant, that inner certainty is the strongest foundation for their children’s respect.”

“We cannot be ‘beggars’ for respect,” she added. “It is very common to focus on where we are not being appreciated enough. We live in a time when people feel they need ‘likes’ just to validate their existence, as if their worth depends on others constantly affirming them.”

“But if all we do is chase recognition from other people, it will never satisfy us. True respect starts at the moment we understand that we were created in the image of God, that we have a unique role in this world, and that our value is absolute, even before anyone else notices us.”

May we all be privileged to enjoy this respect.

Translated by Yehoshua Siskin and Janine Muller Sherr

Want to read more by Sivan Rahav Meir? Google The Daily Thought or visit sivanrahavmeir.com