The Brother I Never Knew: One Heart

In the wake of the tragic events of October 7, unlikely yet remarkable human connections have emerged out of shared purpose and resilience. Through their collaboration, they developed new perspectives and understanding of the other’s world, and achieved something greater than themselves, as they learned to see beyond differences, bridging divides that once seemed insurmountable. Here are their stories.

When October 7 shattered the heart of a moshav in Israel, a shul in Woodmere reached out and welded these disparate communities together, transcending barriers of time and space to show that we’re one. 

One Story

After the horrifying events of last Simchas Torah, hundreds of members of Young Israel of Woodmere, where Rabbi Shay Schachter serves as the associate rabbi, expressed the desire to fly to Eretz Yisrael, to be present and help however they could. Despite a crammed schedule — Rabbi Schachter is also the rabbi at Yachad, the Orthodox Union’s international program for individuals with disabilities — Rabbi Schachter decided, with the staunch support of his wife, Rina, to represent their community, and he boarded a flight headed east.

He met so many individuals affected by the war — evacuees, widows, orphans, survivors, injured soldiers, bereaved parents, released hostages — each one a world of heartbreak. And to each one, Rabbi Schachter extended an invitation. No agenda. No photo ops. Just a simple offer.

“Come visit,” he urged. “We want you to meet your larger family, a family who love you and want to embrace you.”

And come they did. Critically wounded soldiers. Amputees. Released hostages. Parents of hostages. Parents of soldiers. Orphans arriving alone, no family members left to travel with them. Over the next 11 months, well over 50 men, women, and children received Young Israel of Woodmere-sponsored airline tickets.