While Operation “Rising Lion” unfolds and Israeli Air Force jets operate deep in Iranian territory, Rabbi Uriel Sayyed is on a mission at the other end of the world—in Argentina. In these dramatic days for Israel, he recalls an unexpected encounter that took place just days earlier at the airport in Madrid.
In an exclusive interview with RagaNEWS, he shares how this surprising moment reminded him of what truly inspires people across the globe.
Watch the surprising airport encounter:
Hello Rabbi Uriel, we heard you had an unusual encounter in Madrid on your way to Argentina. What exactly happened?
It’s really an incredible story. I’m currently in Argentina, and on my way here from Israel I had a layover in Madrid. I was sitting quietly in a corner of the airport, eating a small meal, when a local man named Juan José approached me and asked for a blessing. I tried to humbly explain that I wasn’t really the person to give blessings, that I’m just a simple man. But Juan wouldn’t give up. He pleaded and said, “I know all blessings come into the world through the People of Israel.”
Hearing those words from a Christian man in Spain—in the middle of an airport—was both surprising and moving. During our conversation, Juan spoke with emotion about the deep connection he feels to the Jewish people. “Every time I see you defeating evil, I shout like I’m at a football match—Goal!” he said with a smile. He told me his family has a tradition of Jewish roots and even showed me a photo of a book passed down from his great-grandmother to her granddaughter.
“Let it be known that You have beloved ones in Your world”
His 19-year-old son is currently studying architecture, and Juan told me he prays that his son will someday meet a woman (yes, also a non-Jew like them) who loves the People of Israel as deeply as they do. Just before we parted, Juan made one final, heartfelt request: “Please bless me, that one day I may merit to reach Jerusalem—the place where God’s eyes are always present,” he said with tears in his eyes. It was a deeply emotional moment. I hugged him and told him I bless him with all my heart.
We parted as I quoted to him the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer—for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” And in my heart, I prayed: “Master of the Universe, let it be known that You have beloved ones in Your world.”
That encounter deeply moved me—seeing a non-Jew with such a spark of love for Israel. For me, it was a powerful reminder of how the soul of Israel can inspire even the nations of the world.
One Mission – One Torah Scroll
From that emotional moment in Madrid, Rabbi Sayyed continued on to his mission in the Jewish community of Argentina, where an extraordinary initiative is underway: writing a Torah scroll in memory of Lt. Col. Yitzhak Ben Bashet z”l and the 13 Golani soldiers who fell alongside him, as well as in honor of all IDF soldiers who have fallen since October 7.
The project, launched by Ayuda Argentina Kehilatí, began immediately after the massacre and has touched the hearts of many Jews. “This Torah is a bridge,” says Rabbi Sayyed, “between the Land of Israel and the Diaspora—between the holy souls who gave their lives defending our people and land, and the letters of the Torah, which are the very lifeblood of our nation.”
“The spirit of an entire people”
Yitzhak Ben Bashet—known as “Benba”—was a legendary Golani officer who had already completed his military service. On the morning of October 7, he put his uniform back on and, together with fellow veterans, stormed into burning Kibbutz Be’eri. He rescued dozens of civilians from the inferno. Two months later, during active duty in Gaza, he was killed while trying to rescue wounded comrades. “He represents everything sacred about the People of Israel,” says Rabbi Sayyed. “No one is more fitting to be memorialized in a Torah scroll.”
How is the Jewish community in Argentina responding?
Everywhere we go, we hold “letter-writing ceremonies” where Jews write a letter in the Torah scroll—and every time, the reactions are incredibly moving. At one of the events, we unveiled the decorated Torah case, adorned with the Israeli flag, the Golani emblem, and a map of the Land of Israel. When the crowd saw it, many burst into tears. “I felt,” the rabbi said, “that in every Jew, a spark of responsibility, belonging, and deep love for the land and for our soldiers was reignited.”
Unity Is the Goal—Not Just Victory
Throughout our conversation, Rabbi Sayyed kept returning to his central message: our strength lies in our unity. “I see it here in Argentina too. This entire people is connected—even if they don’t always know how to explain it.”
“My heart is full of prayer,” Rabbi Sayyed concluded, “that we continue to be one people—with faith, with purpose, with a path. That we will witness the ingathering of the exiles, the return of all hostages, and that the light within us will continue to shine throughout the world.”
