The crowds of celebrants in Meron who saw this halakah stand, one of thousands high on the mountain, could not have known the fascinating life story behind David, the graceful three-year-old boy, and the excited mother who circled around him.
The story began with a desperate letter that reached Yad Laachim in the dead of night via e-mail. R., a daughter of Israel, wrote to Yad Laachim about the difficult, twisted, and torturous life story she had with her Arab husband, a former SLA fighter who immigrated to Israel from Lebanon, after the IDF's withdrawal. Life with him became increasingly violent as the "period of grace" after their marriage ended.
""Two months after giving birth to my son," R. wrote, "I knew I had to make a change. If not for myself, then for my child. So that he wouldn't grow up to have an unhappy life like mine. After a brief investigation, I found you as an organization that helps women in my situation and decided to contact you.".
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She said that she has no one to turn to and nowhere to return to, as her father died when she was young and her family has cut off all contact with her and refuses to acknowledge her. "I can no longer tolerate his severe violence and humiliation," R. concluded her appeal, "Please help me as soon as possible before disaster strikes.".
A short time after the call was received, Yad L'Achim's emergency hotline contacted R., and within a few days R. and his toddler son were rescued to the home of his brother, who was excited to hear that his sister was on her way back to Judaism.
In the period that followed, R. met frequently with a social worker from Yad L'Achim, who supported her emotionally and helped with her rehabilitation. At the same time, the Department of Rescue and Assimilation found her a suitable job and she began to get on the right track.
It was moving to see that a rabbi who had begun returning to Mekorot insisted on not cutting her son David's hair until he was three years old. On Sunday this week, Lag B'Omer, the rabbi was privileged to travel to Meron with her son and celebrate her son's inheritance together with the multitudes of Beit Yisrael.
