When the mother of Bar Kupershtein, who is currently being held hostage by Hamas, appealed to the public asking for people to put on her son’s Tefillin until he returned home, Tzvika Graiver answered the call.
Graiver set up a stand in major Israeli cities, asking people passing by to put on the pair of Tefillin and Daven for the hostages. After finding success in Israel, the Tefillin are now on the road traveling around the US, where crowds have lined up for the Zechus to wear this special pair of Tefillin.
According to Graiver, it all started when his sister in law saw that Bar’s mother had posted online about the Tefillin. Graiver said: “This heroic mother wrote that she was looking for someone to take her son’s beloved Tefillin and help others put them on until he returns from Gaza. I wasn’t sure if I could take on such a heavy responsibility. But I messaged her, saying I love my own Tefillin dearly, but I’d be honored to take Bar’s Tefillin, set up a stand, and encourage others to wear them. I thought it could inspire even more people to put on Tefillin.”
Bar’s mother accepted the offer, and Graiver set up a stand with the Tefillin, a picture of Bar, and asked for Tefillos for Bar-Avraham ben Julia, along with all the other hostages.
Graiver says: “I believe that while the Israel Defense Forces are strong, the spiritual strength of Tefillin has immense power to bring miracles and, God willing, return the hostages soon.”
It took a business trip and the help of fellow Jews to get Bar’s Tefillin on the road. Graiver explains: “I had to travel over the summer for work and to visit my mother-in-law in Montreal. I called Bar’s mother and asked if I should leave the Tefillin behind. She said, ‘No, please take them with you and continue the work abroad.’ And that’s when Chabad communities really stepped in. Everywhere I went, people were eager to use Bar’s Tefillin. The fact that they belonged to a hostage encouraged many Jews to put them on.”
When I arrived in Los Angeles, I spoke with Rabbi Rapoport and gave him the Tefillin. All day long, people were coming to wear them. I think Bar’s Tefillin have been through at least 12 different Chabad centers, moving from one place to another every day.”
“In Florida, they traveled through Miami and Boca, reaching many Chabad emissaries,” Graiver said. “I look at the calendar and can hardly believe that it’s been almost three months of Jews putting on Bar’s Tefillin and praying for his return. I believe this will help bring him and all the hostages back safe and sound.”
Over 1,000 Jews have now worn Bar’s Tefillin, but one story stands out to Graiver the most: “I think it was on the very first day I took Bar’s Tefillin out. A young man came by, looked at the stand, and seemed hesitant. I asked if he wanted to put on Tefillin, and he asked me about the stand after noticing Bar’s picture,” Graiver recalled.
“I told him Bar’s story, and he agreed to put them on. He wore them for half an hour, praying not from a prayer book but from his heart, speaking directly to God. It turned out he was a survivor from Nova. Tefillin wasn’t part of his life, but in that moment, through Bar, he felt a deep connection. It was incredibly moving.”
{Matzav.com Israel}