Wounded IDF soldiers whose tefillin were destroyed in clashes with Hamas received a pleasant surprise in the hospital on Wednesday with a brand new set presented by Young Chabad, the Kikar Shabbat website reported.

Several troops told visitors in the hospital that they were without their tefillin, and the Lubavitch House in Paris responded quickly to help fulfill a request to replace them.

Members of Young Chabad visited the soldiers the same day with a visit and a gift of new tefillin.

One woman from Pisgat Ze’ev, in northern Jerusalem, said that her son, who suffered injuries that required the amputation of one leg, learned in Chabad while in Morocco.

“This is the most important gift for my son,” she said.

The IDF has released 6 additional names from the Golani 13, who were killed in Shejaiya on July 20.

As of now, 12 names have been released.

The newly released names are:

Sgt. Oren Simcha Noach, 22, from Hoshaya

Sgt. Ben Oanounou, 19, from Ashdod

Sgt. Sean Mondshein, 19, from Tel Aviv

Sgt. Daniel Pomerantz, 20, from Kfar Azar

Sgt. Shachar Taaseh, 20, from Pardasia

Sgt. Max Steinberg, 24, from Be’er Sheva (LA)

The previously released names are:

Major Tzafrir Bar-Or,32, from Holon

Captain Zvi Kaplan, 28, from Kedumim

Gilad Yaakovi, 21, from Kiryat Ono

Oz Mendelovitz, 21, from Avtalyon

Sean Carmeli, 21, from Raanana (Texas)

Moshe Malko, 20, from Jerusalem

One name still hasn’t been released, as the IDF has been unable to identify his body at this point. The IDF is still working to identify body parts.

It is believed that Hamas may have taken his body or parts of it, and the IDF does not believe the soldier could have survived the attack.

The family is being kept up to date.

Or Heller of Channel 10 reports that an IDF drone above the fight in Shejaiya saw Hamas trying to steal the dead bodies, but they did not succeed. Heller says, in most likelihood, the most Hamas has in its possession is a shoe or a dog tag.

HY”D

10:03am Multiple Rocket Alerts Tel Aviv… Givat Hashlosha… Kfar Sirkin… Petah Tikva… Or Yehuda.. Savyon… Ganey Tikva… Bnei Brak… Givat Shmuel… Givattayim… Ramat Gan…

Rocket Hits Yehud.

IDF intercepts 1 rocket over Tel Aviv.

IDF forces continue to move slowly through the Gazan neighborhoods of Shuja’iya, Jabalya and Beit Lahiya, searching for terror tunnels, weapons caches and terrorist command and control centers. The fighting is fierce and intense, as Hamas, which has dug these tunnels at great cost, does not want to lose this strategic weapon which enables then to launch coordinated attacks within Israel.

The IDF is determined to destroy as many tunnels as possible, eliminating this imminent threat to the citizens of Israel. 23 terror tunnels have been uncovered by IDF forces since July 17th.

The close-quarters fighting has exacted a heavy toll from the IDF’s soldiers, and 27 soldiers have fallen during Operation ‘Protective Edge’. 186 terrorists have been killed in the fighting, 20 over the past night. In total, 23 have been arrested and taken to Israel for questioning.

Speaking to Sky Arabic, Fox and NBC last night, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said:

“They [Hamas] have taken billions of dollars. Instead of building kindergartens with it, they’re building tunnels, concrete tunnels to blow up our kindergartens. I can tell you that we opened up a hospital, a field hospital, a humanitarian field hospital on the edge of Gaza and Hamas doesn’t let the people come there. They’re hiding rockets in hospitals; they’re hiding arms in hospitals; they’re shooting from hospitals. So they just don’t care. I agreed now to three different calls for ceasefires. We kept them even though Hamas kept firing and they violated every one of those ceasefire calls: the Egyptian ceasefire, the UN ceasefire, the Red Cross ceasefire. We kept them, they broke them. The goal is to restore quiet and security for the people of Israel for a significant period of time and we’ll take whatever action is necessary to achieve that goal.”

Reports of another long-term humanitarian cease fire are coming from Arab sources, but Israel has not confirmed the reports. On other fronts in Israel, the IDF intercepted in a shipment of weapons in the Dead Sea, which was sent from unknown operatives in Jordan to Palestinian terrorists, a military source said.

At about 3AM, a Palestinian terrorist shot and severely injured a 25 years-old Israeli civilian in Judea and Samaria. IDF Forces searched the area.

Four rockets were fired from Gaza over night towards Be’er Sheva. One was intercepted by Iron Dome and three hit open areas. Earlier in the evening, a rocket fired from Gaza hit an open area near Kafr Qasim in central Israel, nearly 100 km from Gaza.

In the past 24 hours more than 139 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel. At least 116 rockets hit Israel. 17 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF struck 150 terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, over 2040 rockets and mortars were fired at Israel. Of them 1,570 hit Israel and 396 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF has targeted over 2,924 terror targets with ground, naval and aerial capabilities

I find myself agreeing with a Facebook post by Peter Beinart.

Beinart is worried that American Jewry are becoming desensitized to events in the Middle East and going morally numb. He blames American Rabbis for playing a significant role in that happening.

With so many Reform Jews not supporting Israel, Beinart’s observation on American Jewry is clearly right.

Peter’s solution is that congregational Rabbis, just like they pray for our Jewish injured and dead, should also pray for the Palestinian dead, naming each one, however many that might be.

As Peter Beinart posted on Facebook:

Peter Beinart
No Israelis have yet been killed in the latest round of Hamas rocket fire, thank God. But if one did, I suspect that many American rabbis would–rightly–mention his or her name this Shabbat. I don’t know how many Palestinians have died in Gaza, but it’s in the dozens, including quite a few children. So why can’t our rabbis–who often tell us that Judaism values life above all else–mention their names? I’m not suggesting that our rabbis denounce Israel’s behavior. That’s a separate question. In fact, it’s precisely because many American rabbis will defend Israel’s actions that they should read out the names and ages of the Palestinians who have died. If you’re going to defend war, then at least be honest about what you’re defending. Don’t perpetuate the mass desensitization to Palestinian suffering and death that characterizes mainstream American Jewish life. Tell your congregants that the world in general–and the Middle East in particular–is a tragic place, filled with awful choices. But don’t keep the people you lead morally numb.

Now, I’m not going to take Beinart to task for not differentiating between Palestinian combatants and civilians, not that I’m sure that he meant to.

I’m not going to take Beinart to task for not asking people to name all the Iraqi and Afghani citizens killed in US air strikes, as that would simply take too long. But I do find it telling that Beinart gives priority to those killed in wars against Israel, and not to those killed in wars with America.

Nor am I going to take Beinart to task for ignoring the collective responsibility of Gaza’s citizens, 60% of whom voted for Hamas in their last election a decade ago, knowing full well what Hamas was, as well as their stated goal of eliminating the Jewish state.

Why?

Because I suspect, like most liberals, he probably doesn’t give much weight to society’s collective responsibility for their actions and decisions, except when it comes to Jews and Israel.

But ultimately Beinart is right.

American rabbis must say a prayer for the dead in Gaza, so that American Jews don’t become desensitized to events and suffering in the Middle East and ultimately morally numb.

Here is the prayer I recommend be said in American synagogues, right after they say the prayer for Israel’s injured and dead – as we still can’t ignore that Judaism dictates that we give charity, concern and priority to our own family first – even as Beinart did in his own way, by giving priority to Palestinians over Iraqis and Afghanis.

A Prayer for the Palestinian Dead

God of Abraham, Joshua, Gideon, David, and Devorah, may you grant the IDF victory over our enemies in Gaza.

May Hamas weapon stockpiles be destroyed, and may all the Hamas leadership, their supporters and the terrorists in the fields be eradicated and killed.

We pray that no more innocent civilians, such as Ahmed and Mohammed, ages 0-99, be murdered by Hamas, as Hamas cynically and evilly use their own citizens and children as Human Shields.

We pray that Israel’s targeted strikes succeed, and destroys the weapon launchers, infrastructure, terror tunnels and weapon stockpiles hidden under homes, hospitals, mosques and schools, and that no innocent civilians be injured or killed in those targeted strikes, if possible.

We pray that Gaza’s citizens discover that supporting Hamas, as well as cheering, praying and working towards Israel’s and the Jewish people’s destruction is morally wrong and evil.

We pray they repent and mend their ways, before their children grow up filled up with hatred for Jews, brainwashed by Hamas and Fatah in their school systems, summer camps and television programs.

We pray the same for those under Palestinian Authority control in Judea and Samaria.

Now let us say, Amen.

JERUSALEM – Gazan terrorists continued to fire rockets at Israeli civilian targets throughout the night.

Since midnight, 8 rockets have been fired at Israel by Hamas terrorists and the IDF has hit 54 terror targets in the Gaza Strip. In the past 24 hours, more than 105 rockets were launched from Gaza towards Israel. In response to the continued rocket fire, the IDF struck 326 targets across the Gaza Strip including concealed rocket launchers, terror tunnels, training bases, military compounds, weapons storage and manufacturing facilities, and additional sites utilized as control centers by senior Hamas terrorists.

For the second night in a row, Hamas tried to send terrorists into Kibbutz Zikim, via the sea. The terrorists were again spotted by the IDF. Both terrorists were killed. No IDF soldiers were injured in the attack.

The IDF is currently focusing its efforts on destroying the terror infrastructure in Gaza from the air and targeting terrorist leaders and commanders. The IAF targeted the homes of several Hamas commanders yesterday who used their homes as terror command centers. Early this morning, the IDF targeted three Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists who were involved in the manufacturing of medium-range rockets. Accurate hits were registered. Hamas has resorted again to using human shields to protect their infrastructure. The population seems to be gladly cooperating with them, and this has caused the IDF to abort missions. This further boosts the number of civilian casualties in Gaza. The IDf has stated it is doing its outmost to avoid such assurances.

Reports of a possible IDF incursion into Gaza are intensifying. Israel is deploying a third infantry brigade alongside two others already on the border and is continuing to call up more reserves, army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said in a briefing.
Since the start of Operation ‘Protective Edge’, over 360 rockets have been fired towards Israel and the IDF has targeted approximately 780 targets, with both naval and aerial capabilities.

The Hamas terrorist organization has begun to issue false reports to journalists as its desperation rises to win its conflict with Israel.

As it does in each mini-war, Hamas is already grinding out rumors and disinformation to gullible journalists who believe the reports of destroyed targets and dead Jews.

The latest false report – issued in the form of an “IDF Alert” – claimed a missile attack destroyed an oil refinery in Haifa. A second report issued shortly after claimed that 25 Jews were killed.

There are specific criteria for authentic IDF reports to journalists, which professional reporters recognize. The public is urged not to believe unsubstantiated reports of Jewish deaths and destroyed Israeli infrastructure: there’s a lot of Arab disinformation out there. It’s all part of the propaganda war.