8/15/24 Update from Rabbi Kerbel

How We Can Support Israel

Today, Thursday, August 15, 2024, is the 314th day since Hamas attacked the communities of Southern Israel.  The events of October 7th have profoundly impacted, affected, and shaken us. The war itself, the things we have learned about the atrocities of October 7, the rise in antisemitism, and the assault on Israel and Jews around the world have upended much of what we thought and believed about the state of the Jewish people in the world and the rise of The State of Israel in world opinion.

It is very easy to be distracted from the basic facts of this war so let me remind you of them:

• 1,200 Israelis were murdered on October 7th
• 350 Israelis and people of other nationalities were kidnapped on October 7th
• 116 hostages have been released or freed by the IDF
• 120 hostages have been declared dead
• 120 hostages remain in captivity with the belief that more than half are no longer alive
• 395 Israeli soldiers, 10 Shin Bet officers and 59 Police officers have were killed
• 10,000 Israelis remain displaced from their homes in the North and the South of Israel
• The economy has taken a significant hit
• Israel’s usual booming tourist industry is deeply affected

There is a significant debate among the people of Israel about what Israel should do and how they should react to the threats they face and which actions should come first – destroy Hamas? Negotiate a deal to bring home the hostages? How to respond to the terrorists of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.

This week, I would like to focus on what we can do to help the people of Israel. Thanks to your generosity, we have raised and donated over $5,000 for Israel Emergency Relief. We have donated that money to:

• The Jewish Federation of MetroWest New Jersey Israel Emergency Fund
• The Joint (JDC) -the Jewish world’s largest rescue and relief agency
• American Friends of Magen David Adom
• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
• Zaka – Israel’s premier emergency and rescue organization
• The Schechter Institutes War Emergency Projects

I write this before what we believe will be an impending attack from Hezbollah and Iran.

Regardless of what happens, the emergency in Israel will continue. Families are displaced. Hostage families need our financial and spiritual support. All sectors of Israeli society need support to maintain operations and increase counseling and resilience services to help a traumatized nation.

As we approach the month of Elul, a time for heightened awareness of the giving of tzedakah, I invite you to contribute to the above organizations or the Israeli non-profits of your choice and if it is helpful, I am happy to accept your donations through the TBEMC Rabbi’s Fund and distribute them as I have in 2023-2024.  If you wish to contribute through our Temple, please note on your check or in Shul Cloud that the donation is to be directed to the RDF (Rabbi’s Fund).

In addition, we will participate in two events for Israel:

1. On September 9 at 8 p.m., please join me at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston as ZAKA, Israel’s premier search and rescue organization hosts its first New Jersey fundraiser. I have been asked to serve as an honorary co-chair.  If you cannot attend and would like to make a contribution, please send a check made out to ZAKA or my rabbi’s fund and we will pass along all donations.

1. On Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m., TBEMC will host a reception in honor of State of Israel Bonds as part of our Israel Bonds High Holy Day Appeal. Please join us as Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Vice-President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, DC, shares a penetrating and wide-ranging briefing on Israel, the Israel-Gaza War, Iran, the Abraham Accords and the latest analyses of news from The Middle East. This is a not to be missed event! The invitation will be sent out shortly or please rsvp to the synagogue office at your convenience.

Through building our own knowledge about Israel and the Middle East, contributing to worthy tzedakot and joining together as a community, we will be able to show our love and support for Israel.  Now is the time for support and action!

Rabbi Paul David Kerbel

——————————————————-

As Israel’s brave military forces defend our beloved homeland, Jewish Federations across North America are responding with humanitarian aid for victims of terror, from providing for basic, immediate needs to helping rebuild damaged infrastructure and ravaged lives, addressing the immense levels of trauma caused by these horrific events, and more.

Jewish Federation has launched an Israel Emergency Fund to mobilize resources for their network of partners on the ground. Please join us in supporting as you are able by clicking here.

As we grieve the tragic loss of Israeli life and the lives irrevocably changed, let us pray for the safety of all Israelis, those who have lost loved ones, and the safe return of the hostages while we band together as a family, a community, a people. 

You can also make a donation to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, which Rabbi Kerbel will distribute to Friends of IDF, Israel Trauma Coalition, Magen David Adom, and United Hatzalah over the next few weeks.

• Additional ways to donate
• Resources on the War in Israel from USCJ