"We are not afraid," says an influential member of the shrunken Jewish community of Damascus, several days after the dramatic revolution which felled the Assad rule. "No one barged into Jewish properties, shuls or homes," he assures his interviewer from the "Here are the News" program. "Very recently, I was walking along when one of the rebels even greeted me."

However, behind the reserved optimism is hidden a complex background of a historic community which was almost totally obliterated.

In the 40's of the previous century, the Jewish Syrian population numbered 30,000. Today, according to a well updated estimate, it is comprised of a mere three to thirty Jews in all, most of them elderly people hiding their identity.

Some good news for a change. The Institute for Freedom and Responsibility of the Reichman University ran a survey among Israelis, examining how the present war has impacted their level of religiosity. Citizens were asked if their belief in Supreme Providence has changed since the beginning of the war. Also, if their connection to Jewish tradition has been strengthened.

The findings show a marked rise in the religious level of Israelis because of the war. 31% of the participants felt that their belief in Hashem has grown and 28% reported that their connection to Jewish heritage has also increased.

Another interesting finding was that the religious spiritual reinforcement varied with age. Surprisingly, it was stronger among the youth, 37% of those between the ages of 18 and 35 reported a growth in their belief in Hashem since the beginning of the war, as opposed to a mere 18% of people from the 56 bracket and up. Similarly, younger people reported a newfound affinity to Jewish tradition.

The researchers' conclusion: ...

Among the great tzadikim and gedolim who illuminated the Torah world in the generation before the Second World War, a select few stand out as the major path finders of Klal Yisroel, and whose every thought and deed was given over to help Klal Yisroel as a whole. They made the important decisions and carried the heavy burden on their shoulders.

One of these select few was the Chortkover Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Friedman zt'l. His chassidim numbered in their tens of thousands, and included quite a few famous Rebbes and rabbonim. The poseik hador, Reb Meir Arik of Tarnov and also the Lubliner Rov, Reb Meir Shapiro zt'l were faithful chassidim of the Rebbe of Chortkov, as were the rebbes of Slonim, Amshinov and Radomsk. It was not an uncommon sight to see up to 200 rabbonim sitting at the Rebbe's tish.

Part II

Avoda of Tzedoko

Even though great sums of money were deposited in the Rebbe's hands by those who had been helped through him, the Rebbe was very careful never to use money received from non-kosher sources. This point is illustrated through the following story which was told over by Reb Dovid Prever zt'l from Antwerp. Reb Dovid who was a well known Chortkov chassid lived in Berlin.

One Friday night Reb Dovid's door bell rang. An assimilated Jew who had heard that Reb Dovid intended to visit his Rebbe soon and he wanted to ask for a brocho for himself. The assimilated Jew took out a kvittel and some money and put them down on Reb Dovid's table, asking him to please hand them over to the Rebbe.

Reb Dovid, aghast at this open display of chilul Shabbos, thought at first that he would not take the kvittel with him. On second thought however, he decided that since he had been asked to carry out a mission, he would do so and whatever the Rebbe would do with the kvittel and pidyon was none of his business.

When Reb Dovid entered the Rebbe's room he put down on the Rebbe's table the two sums of money: his and the other Yid's. He made no mention of how the money from the other Jew had arrived into his hands. Normally the Rebbe never looked at the pidyon. He would ignore it leaving it to a gabbai to clear away. This time however the Rebbe took the money which the assimilated Jew had sent, and put it in his breast pocket. Reb Dovid noticed this sudden change but said nothing. Reb Dovid's money stayed lying on the table as usual, awaiting the gabbai.

After the conversation came to a close, the Rebbe told Reb Dovid that he had to go somewhere and that he wanted Reb Dovid to accompany him...