Israel Emergency Resource - The Reform Temple of Rockland

My Dear Friends:

Israel is in crisis – indeed, the world is in crisis, and we must do what we are able to heal ourselves, even as we do our best to heal the world.

Judaism commands us to live our lives in community – we celebrate together, we mourn together, we pray together, we give thanks together, we struggle together, we take action together…

An early midrash teaches:

“The people of Israel are like a single body and a single soul…If one of them is stricken, all of them feel pain.” (Mekhilta d’Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai 19:6)

We are adding a page to our RTR website where you will find a growing number of links to important organizations and other resources that could be very helpful in all sorts of ways during these terrifying times. Please visit this new page regularly, as we will update it as new information is made available. The site includes the following information:

DONATE – legitimate organizations doing practical, powerful, and impactful work related to supporting folks who literally are in the middle of the action

SOURCES – reliable sources from which to learn the most up-to-date news, as well as organizations that fact-check and monitor the accuracy of information that is being shared around the world

RESOURCES – ways to cope; ways to discuss the events of the day with children as well as with peers; ways to take action – symbolically, and practically, in support of the hostages as well as all people affected directly by the current events

Please let us know if/how we can be helpful to you at this time and please let us know if you have information that could be helpful to add to our Israel Emergency web page.

Our Israeli friends and family need our support at this time. Every phone call, e-mail message, and text message can make a difference, letting them know that they are not alone.

As alluded to, above, being part of the Jewish Community puts us in a position to experience our simchas more joyfully and also to soften the sorrows of others – by being there with and for each other. We all are saddened to be confronting such a painful moment, even as we are grateful to have each other for support as we process it together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Lazar and Cantor Neff

DONATE

FIDF (Friends of the Israel Defense Forces)

https://www.fidf.org/

Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County

https://www.jewishrockland.org/

IsraAID

https://www.israaid.org/

JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)

https://www.jdc.org/

Federation Rockland