Nelken Family Honors Grandfather With Gift of 25 Tefillin

Dozens of soldiers committed to a daily practice of donning Tefillin during a visit by the Nelken family from Miami, Crown Heights and Pennsylvania, who spent their summer vacation in Israel supporting IDF troops.

The event was organized by 'Ezer L'Chayal', an organization serving families of IDF soldiers and reservists. The Nelken family presented 25 pairs of mehudar Tefillin, donated in memory of their grandfather, R' Yechiel Dov Nelken OBM.

Each soldier who made the commitment received a complete set including mehudar Tefillin, a leather bag, an instructional booklet on how to put on Tefillin, and a branded yarmulke. Soldiers wrapped themselves in Tefillin and sang during the gathering.

Beyond the spiritual component, Chabad volunteers responded to an advance request by providing portable outdoor air conditioners to help soldiers cope with extreme heat in the field.

Soldiers and commanders expressed gratitude to the Nelken family and 'Ezer L'Chayal', stating: "Thank you, Chabad, for not forgetting us even after nearly three years of war. The warm embrace and support from Jews in the Diaspora give us tremendous strength to continue our mission."