Here for a Reason

For Ziva, this group was Heaven-sent. “I remember telling these women that despite the circumstances that brought us together, these are the best days of my life. I told them that I’d never understood the purpose for my existence, but now I’ve found such meaning, such depth in my life. I’m so fortunate.” Ziva’s gratitude even brought her to recite Mizmor L’sodah several times daily during the period of Sapir’s captivity.

Avi and Ziva’s positivity was deliberate. Ziva refused to listen to the news, and allowed Avi a brief two-minute daily peek at the headlines. “People tried to share information with me, but I told them not to. ‘Look,’ I said, ‘I have what I need from the Borei Olam, your information isn’t relevant to me, nothing down here, not protests or the like, determines outcomes, it’s irrelevant.’ ”

Ziva’s shiurim were based on the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov, and a great premium was placed on living with simchah. Avi explains: “The idea was that with your simchah, you relay positive energy, even all the way to Sapir in Gaza. If you engage in sadness, that is broadcast to her instead. We don’t want to give power to negative forces that could impact Sapir.”

He likened Tehillim to a bridge that connects people on a subconscious spiritual plane. The Tehillim emanating from the women’s group was in a sense nourishment for Sapir. “When we spoke with her after her release and she described the sense of confidence and hope that she spontaneously experienced, that was the work of the Tehillim that connected her to the people here.”

Actions speak louder than words. Avi and Ziva didn’t just speak bitachon, it informed their behavior and the things they did while Sapir was held hostage. Ziva encouraged her study group to plan the mesibat hoda’ah they would have when Sapir returned. “We discussed the music we’d play, the table decor, the food we’d serve, everything!”

Ziva shopped for an outfit for the party, and bought clothing for Sapir as well. She also purchased other items she knew Sapir needed or would appreciate, and arranged them on her bed, in anticipation of her return.

When Sapir’s work colleagues came to visit, Ziva, noting their miserable expressions, invited them in with a huge smile and explained, “This is the way you come into my home.” Her reframe was something they appreciated, and they stayed to discuss topics relating to the Borei Olam and emunah. When they asked what they could do for Sapir, with the implications being political activism, Ziva demurred. Instead, she suggested they choose pirkei Tehillim to say on behalf of all the hostages and all of Am Yisrael. Sapir’s colleague immediately agreed, galvanizing all 400 of his workers to undertake this project.

“This is what we tried to do during this entire period,” Ziva relates. “Imagine all of the efforts people took on for Sapir as a rock thrown into a pond,” she explains. “The ripples are still spreading. So many people accepted upon themselves different mitzvot, and these effects are still spreading, triggering further commitment to avodat Hashem.”

Avi sums up their approach to this chapter in their lives: “When Sapir was taken hostage, we understood we were in the midst of a nisayon, and our responsibility was to understand the nature of the nisayon, and how to remain strong throughout. HaKadosh Baruch Hu does what He does, and we can’t come with complaints to Him. We don’t understand why He does things, the same way we don’t entirely understand why He created us. Our job is simply to follow Him.”

Please daven for the safe release of Alexander Sasha ben Lena Leah, along with the rest of the hostages in Gaza.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 890)