To every miluim couple in Israel,

To every miluim couple in Israel,

I have a question I’ve been carrying in my heart for a long time.

Do you know how much we love you?

Do you know how much we admire you?

Do you know how many of us look at you and see the very best of this country?

Last night, I attended another miluim couples workshop with Galya from Jerusalem Taste Buds, and once again, I found myself fighting back tears.

Not because anyone shared a tragic story.

Not because anyone complained.

At the end of the evening, Galya invited the participants to share a few words about their experience. One by one, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to spend time together, connect with other couples, and enjoy an evening away from the pressures of everyday life.

As I listened, all I could think was:

Why are they thanking us?

This is the least we can do.

How do we ever repay people who repeatedly leave their homes, their spouses, their families, and their lives because our country needs them?

One participant shared that after returning home, it can take nearly two months to come out of “battle mode” and feel fully present again. Just as life begins to settle into a rhythm, another call-up may arrive, requiring them to make that transition all over again.

Listening to him, I found myself wondering how many times a person can be asked to reset their heart.

As I listened, I felt an overwhelming sense of hakarat hatov—the Jewish value of recognizing and appreciating the good that others do for us.

These are........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)