The name and details of Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin appeared in a chilling document uncovered in Hezbollah's underground bunker in the village of Kfar Kila. The rabbi said that when the IDF began its ground maneuver in southern Lebanon, soldiers entered the village, eliminated many terrorists, destroyed underground infrastructure and discovered the document there.
During searches conducted by the military in the southern Lebanese village, it became evident that almost every house in the village was filled with various types of weapons, prepared to serve as launch sites for rockets and drones aimed at Israel.
Further investigation revealed that the location was also meant to serve as a staging point for terrorists to launch attacks on northern Israeli towns, starting with the nearby Metula and continuing to other communities in the area.
“Long before the October 7 attack a senior reserve military officer living in the area and regularly attending our Torah study sessions often told me how deeply concerned he was about the security situation,” Rabbi Sasonkin said.
“He warned that there was a real and immediate danger, as Hezbollah terrorists could breach the border at any moment, easily overrun Metula and cause a hostage crisis or worse before anyone could respond in time.”
“It’s likely even he didn’t realize just how prepared Hezbollah was for an attack on the northern communities,” he added. “But his words made it less surprising to me when it became clear just how ready and trained they were for such a horrifying assault.”
It was only during Hanukkah last year that Rabbi Sasonkin learned a stunning piece of information. “A senior source told me that after IDF forces entered the village of Kfar Kila, they discovered a document containing highly detailed plans for a massacre similar to the one on October 7,” Rabbi Sasonkin told Kfar Chabad newspaper.
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Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin in Metula at Hanukkah candle lighting
(Photo: Chabad House Metula)
“Among the intelligence found in Hezbollah’s underground bunkers was a list of the most important people in Metula. Even our home was marked on the terrorists' maps, complete with a precise description of our car,” he added.
“This information came to me recently during a conversation with a senior official. I told him that now, after the cease-fire, there’s hope that Metula’s residents will finally return to their homes. He replied, ‘You have no idea how much you need to be thankful for,’ and then revealed the contents of this harrowing document.”
Rabbi Sasonkin was shaken. “Just think about it: mere kilometers from Metula, every home we could see from every corner of the town was filled with weapons. This included anti-tank missiles and other lethal munitions. Thousands of terrorists were trained and ready to use this arsenal to attack the north in the same way Hamas attacked the south.”
“It’s clear that the local civilians wouldn’t have been able to withstand it, and the alert squads wouldn’t have either. The terrorists could’ve easily infiltrated and carried out their murderous plot without resistance. There’s no logical explanation for why they didn’t execute their detailed, diabolical plan.”
Rabbi Sasonkin has been serving as a Chabad emissary in Metula for 35 years. “At this point, it seems the resettlement of Metula is a complex process and it’s hard to predict how long it’ll take,” he said.
“Many homes were directly hit and destroyed, requiring extensive renovations before they can be lived in again. Even homes that weren’t destroyed, like ours, sustained damage from shockwaves and shrapnel. Windows shattered, tiles fell and furniture broke.
“Other infrastructure was also damaged. While we have electricity at home, there’s no water connection. Each house has its own challenges. Despite the difficulties, I’m impressed that the vast majority of Metula’s residents are eager to return to their homes. It’s very unpleasant to live as evacuees and living in a hotel for over a year is far from enjoyable.”
Since his evacuation, Rabbi Sasonkin and his family have been living in his mother’s home in Avital while continuing his work in Metula. “The town is nearly empty of residents, but there are many soldiers, so we had a large audience of soldiers at the first Hanukkah candle lighting,” he said.
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“With all the hardships, we must remember that each one of us is a living miracle. We’ve all experienced a miraculous salvation. There’s no logical explanation for what stopped the terrorists in Lebanon from carrying out their plans on October 7, just like the terrorists in Gaza did in the south.”
“They planned it for years, built infrastructure, trained killers, gathered weapons and were ready to strike,” he added. Just this week, I asked military personnel whether Kfar Kila still poses a threat. The response was that the IDF’s operations against Hezbollah over the past year, especially since the ground operation, the area is more desolate than habitable.”