A Moving Shabbat for French Immigrants During the Time of Corona

A Moving Shabbat for French Immigrants During the Time of Corona This month, while complying with coronavirus restrictions, we celebrated Shabbat for French speakers.

We held meals on the scenic balcony overlooking Mount Meron, and enjoyed a three day program in an unforgettable, engaging, uplifting, and healing environment! The new immigrants arrived with a lot of excitement following months of anticipation.

Shabbat, July 26: During this time every year, Ascent-Tzfat hosts French-speaking groups from all over Israel, including Netanya, Herzliya, Ashdod, etc. This past week, 22 young adults arrived from Jerusalem. Shabbat guests included Amram Moyel and David Chury, who lead engaging, challenging, and uplifting lectures and sessions!

On Friday night we held a lively Farbrengen around a table filled with snacks, desserts, and drinks. At one point during the event, a woman stood up among the guests and recounted a fascinating story: —- “My husband and I live in an upscale neighborhood in Paris.

As word began to spread about the rise in coronavirus cases a couple of days before Purim, we understood that very soon the virus would reach France as well, so we decided to fly to Israel. While speaking with my sister who lives in Jerusalem, we learned that Israel was about to close its aerial borders, and we quickly decided to purchase tickets for a flight. By the time Purim arrived we were already in Israel, but we felt unwell.

We wanted to escape the virus, yet somehow it caught up with us. Both my husband and I contracted the virus. Previously, my husband had suffered from a lung infection, and was very worried about contracting the virus. In the end, he recovered, but I suffered very serious symptoms. Initially we were both admitted to a hospital’s coronavirus unit, but once my condition worsened I was put in quarantine. After a couple days I felt I was nearing my end, and was put on a ventilator. I called my older brother and asked him to tell my younger brother about the situation, so that my younger brother wouldn’t be upset that he didn’t know about my deterioration in the event that I pass away. My older brother took initiative and didn’t just call my younger brother, but reached out to all of his friends.

He asked each friend to take on a Mitzvah and Torah subject in my merit. Many of his friends took it upon themselves to keep Shabbat and recite Psalms. That Friday night, I was uncomfortable with the intravenous line and decided to call out to God: ‘Help me! I want to live! I want to be healthy! I promise that if I recover I will take on the Mitzvah of covering my hair’.

I have been married for two years and while there are many Mitzvot I keep, I find the laws of modesty to be extremely difficult to adhere to. I have no idea why I specifically thought of the Mitzvah of covering my hair. After I made that promise to God, I felt an immediate inner calm.The following day, I tried to drink water on my own and succeeded.

After my second successful attempt to drink I requested that the medical staff remove the intravenous line. They refused, so I removed it myself. Three days later I began to eat on my own, and very soon after I was transferred to a recovery unit. Currently, we are ‘stuck’ in Israel, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to be here, at Ascent, celebrating our miraculous recovery”.

—- We pray that we may continue to merit hosting guests from all over Israel in health, joy, and redemption.