This week, our daily kavanot will honor the memories of just some of the men, women, and children killed by Hamas in last week’s horrific attacks.
Zichronam livracha—May their memories be forever a blessing.

As of late last week, Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s special reconnaissance and operations unit, akin to the British Special Air Service or the U.S. Navy’s Seal Team Six, If you ask my 7 year old about the highlight of our family trip to Israel this summer, she will first tell you about the ice cream. But then, she is likely to tell you about the day we spent at Moshav Bar Giora, outside of Jerusalem, where our very own teacher Chen Goldberg grew up. She’ll tell you about running around with her friend Ziv and his cousins, about running back and forth to the makolet (the local convenience store), about the bonfire and the sunset and the new friends she made. She’ll tell you, probably, how she wants to live there this summer.

But this week, Moshav Bar Giora, like every other community in Israel, is in deep mourning. Because, like virtually every other community in Israel, they have lost one of their own.

Dekel Swissa, z”l, was 23 years old. A sweet, smart young man with big blue eyes–Dekel had been a shinshin in Atlanta in 2018 and 2019.  When he returned to Israel, he spent time studying Torah in yeshiva, and he was a Commander in the Golani Brigade–where his loving and caring nature was focused on his soldiers.

When the attacks began on Saturday, October 7, Dekel organized the defense of his entire base. Beginning at 6:30am, Dekel hid his entire unit in the bomb shelter before turning to defend them; reports suggest that he single-handedly and successfully battled over 20 terrorists–possibly up to 50. According to his soldiers, he was killed by the last standing terrorist. He saved more than 17 soldiers, giving his life for his command. As one soldier said, “He saved our lives. He fought until his last drop of blood.”

Even as his family, friends, communities, and country mourn for Dekel, they are committed to sharing his motto with the world: Don’t forget to smile when you wake up.

Zichrono livracha—may his memory be for a blessing.

Rabbi Sari Laufer