Dear Friends,
These past 20 days have been unbearably heavy, as we continue to process the murder of 1400 Israelis and the kidnapping of more than 200 others, including 20 children. The brutality of these terror attacks makes the pain of these losses all the more excruciating. In moments like this, we long to be with our family in Israel, to hug them, to tell them that they are not alone, and to express our gratitude for the sacrifices that they make for our people.
So this is exactly what I am doing. I am writing this as I fly to Israel to join a Rabbinic Solidarity Mission organized by the UJA Federation of New York. Part One of my six days in Israel will be my own personal mission, as I visit Tali’s sister and her family for Shabbat on their kibbutz. On Sunday, I will do my best to see other friends and family members who have been called up to the army and who are awaiting deployment. If I can find my way to them for a simple hug and a twenty-minute conversation, dayyenu, it will be enough. Israelis feel so isolated right now, so I hope that whatever love and solidarity we can bring from America will be meaningful.
On Monday I will join my colleagues from New York for the rabbinic mission. I see my role as your shaliach (emissary). I know how deeply you wish to be in Israel with our brothers and sisters who are reeling from the trauma of these savage attacks. So I will be there on your behalf. I will carry your love and support with me and share it with each person I meet. Your hands will be working alongside mine when I volunteer at chamalim, or operation centers. When I meet evacuees and trauma survivors, I will bear witness to their stories by joining my compassion to yours. When I meet with Israeli colleagues and offer them chizzuk, or strength during this time of tragedy, your optimism and faith will join mine.
And of course, I will learn as much as I possibly can so that I can share it with you when I return.
I understand that in the big picture, a short rabbinic mission will not change much of anything on the ground. People have been asking me how they can make a difference. I will reiterate what we wrote in our first email to you on October 9th.
There are so many organizations that are doing critical work in Israel; I always encourage people to donate to the organizations to which they feel most connected.
There are several reasons that I support UJA Federation New York's Emergency Israel Fund and recommend it to those who ask me for a suggestion. For starters, this fund has broad impact throughout many critical sectors of Israeli society that require attention and support. Unlike organizations that serve only one need, this fund invests in medical care, first responders, care for injured soldiers, trauma interventions, evacuated families, victims of terror, Arab and Bedouin citizens, and so on. Employees on the ground receive daily updates from the government, the Jewish Agency, and other NGOs. They allocate funds based on these evolving updates and redirect money to address the most critical needs. If you are interested in reading more about the allocation of this fund you may do so here.
There are many things happening in our Westchester community related to the terror attacks, the ensuing war, and the rise of antisemitism. We aim to help you sift through all of the opportunities for education, advocacy, and giving by creating a central location for this information on our website and through our emails. Click here to visit our new Israel Resources webpage.
These are challenging times. Please prioritize self-care. Reduce excessive social media use and set healthy boundaries for news consumption. Stay connected to the positive aspects of our communal life. After all, since October 7th, we have celebrated four aufrufs and two bnei mitzvah, with another one scheduled for this Shabbat. We remain firm in our committment to building a vital communal life even as we remain intimately connected to the unfolding war in Israel and fighting antisemitism here.
I will remain in touch throughout these next six days as I share your love with everyone I see. May we see better days ahead and never lose our 2,000-year-old hope to be a free people in our land.
L’Shalom,
