The following D'var was given by Dr. Chaim Peri at the ImpactIsrael board meeting in December 2024.
Chaverim,
Vayislach is this week's Torah portion, in which the name "Israel" is first introduced. Our forefather, Jacob, undergoes a process of transformation to become "Israel" – and we become B'nai Israel. As the story goes, in a long night of heavy darkness and deep isolation, Jacob wrestles with a mysterious entity – is it angel or man?
Only when the darkness has receded, can he finally acknowledge his survival and triumph:
“Release me, for the sun has risen”, the Angel beseeches him.
But Jacob is not yet ready to release him from his grip. “Bless me!”, he demands.
“You shall be called… Isra-El: You have wrestled with God and with man and prevailed."
The end of darkness is not the same as the dawn of new light. The victory of one side is not enough to bring about the struggle’s end.
For many of us, this biblical scene resonates with our current state of affairs. Only yesterday, our Yemin Orde Mechina graduate, Binyamin Destau Negosa, a 28-year-old reserves paratrooper, was brought to burial at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. And just a few hours ago, I attended the funeral of 43-year-old Yevgeni Zinnerstein here at Zichron. Both lost their lives in Lebanon.
While we all experience an emotional roller coaster of grief and hope, we can take pride in the resilience of our people. As educational leaders, our challenge is to be the compass that shows a way out of the current plights and uncertainly. We consider education to be the main healing factor of our society, and we must stand up to the test.
In our Village Way sessions with educators, especially those from the Gaza Envelope and the Upper Galilee, we often begin by asking; “What is it that we can offer you? You already have a solid professional experience and leadership traits.” All these educators and educational leaders come to Yemin Orde and are shown how the philosophy is implemented on the ground, thanks to our heroes – Boaz, Dotan, Tomer, Susan, Eyal and Benny, and the heart and excellence of the Village Way Educational Institute team.
The unequivocal feedback that we get from educators is that the Village Way rekindles their inner flame. Charged up, with fresh wind in their sails, they can tackle today’s challenges and pass on the flame to the young generation.
This is our main mission today. Bernie Marcus, of blessed memory, aptly described it as “humanizing pedagogy.” In our last meeting together, he told me: “The Village is a flagship. Your task is training the trainers - teaching the teachers. Creating educational therapeutic communities throughout Israel. Make sure that your plans are viable and feasible. Don’t try to conquer the entire world - and ensure measurable results and accountability.”
This to me is the collective challenge, mission, and legacy of the Village, the Village Way and ImpactIsrael. It is the culmination of the unique partnership that continues to bind us together.
Thank you.