Sergeant Major Ben Kerido shares real time, first person updates from the front lines of Gaza during Operation Swords of Iron.
It was Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath). But it certainly didn’t feel like it. The setting sun had given way to a royal purple hue briefly shifting into shades of burnt orange with each incoming and outgoing bombardment to and from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Arab terrorists still fired missiles into Israeli territory, and the IDF retaliated against Hamas with devastating air strikes and artillery barrages.
Our special forces reserve unit focusing on mobilized infantry and reconnaissance operations had received a new set of combat orders relating to our role in Operation: Swords of Iron. I am not at liberty to disclose what those orders were and how they relate to the war in Gaza. But I can say that they were quite serious. This was the real deal. Our Mem-Peh, or Company-Commander, Vilna, is a religious Jewish man with tzitzit (fringes) and peyot (sidelocks).
He lead us with a dvar Torah (inspirational spiritual message) followed by Kiddush (a ritual proclaiming the sanctity of the Sabbath). But first we sang “Eishet Chayil” (a musical version of Proverbs 31). The song begins with, “Who can find a virtuous wife / woman? Her value is far beyond precious jewels!” Scores of men stood around a wobbly table with challah bread and grape juicing it. Distant booming punctuating the words of the song. The tune is usually a bit emotional — even melancholy. But I had never heard “Eishet Chayil” like this before.
The men sang in a mournful tune, each with their heads down slightly. Their eyes were all glazed over, slightly wet, overcome with a fat away look. In that moment none of us were on a military base near the Gaza Strip. We were all at home with our families — with our own virtuous wives. Hopefully Jewish men like us appreciate their wives all the time. But it’s times like these that the virtue and value of loving, supportive wives is most apparent.
And I really want to express to the world the type of wives we have: Strong Jewish women who love the Almighty, who love our homeland, who love our people, and who love us, their husbands. Virtuous women of Israel who stand strong as they support their husbands in the fight, take care of all matters back at home, and love us unconditionally and without limit even from afar. It’s times like these that you really comprehend the truth that a virtuous wife is a great treasure worth more than jewels. One on my fellow soldiers, a religious Jewish man called Smiley, was especially emotional during the song. No doubt he reminisced of all the Shabbatot spent with his wonderful wife and children. I’m not really this type of guy, but after Kiddush I gave him a “bro hug.” “Shabbat Shalom,” I said simply. He gazed into my eyes with a knowing and appreciative glance, and hugged me back solidly. “Shabbat Shalom,” he answered. Nothing else was said. Nothing needed to be said. And, after all, we are men. We are notoriously kind of lousy at this sort of thing. I said a quick prayer, asking the Most High to ensure that Smiley made it to back home for many, many more Shabbat meals with his family and renditions of the “Eishet Chayil” song. And then I asked the Almighty to please consider doing the same favor for me and my own virtuous wife.
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