I’ll Take 500 Sleeping Bags Please

October 7th has changed every single aspect of our lives. Many people have shared that every night when they go to bed, they think of thousands of IDF soldiers who are sleeping on the ground, dressed and ready to return to their duties at any given time. Such seemingly basic necessity, as a bed with a mattress can no longer be taken for granted.

Recently, a group of volunteers from around the world has successfully supplied 500 sleeping bags to IDF soldiers.

My husband’s friend, Dan, who lives in Jerusalem, created a private WhatsApp group with a few friends that included two commanders of Tank Infantry units. One of them, Alex, is currently serving in Gaza and the other, Yakov, is stationed near the Lebanese border. Members of the WhatsApp group sent some financial support to purchase everyday items for the soldiers. Slowly, more and more people asked to be added to the Tank Infantry group, hoping to contribute whatever was needed – warm undergarments, heating pads, flashlights, binoculars.

Then Alex and Yakov shared that their soldiers would benefit from lightweight, waterproof sleeping bags, designed for cold night temperatures.

After some research, we discovered that such bags are available through Amazon at $40 per unit. We posted the Amazon link on our WhatsApp group and within days, just about everyone on the chat bought a sleeping bag and shared the link with others. Arthur, our friend from Philadelphia, volunteered his house as a temporary holding space for all the bags. His three young boys, ages 7, 9, and 10 spent their after-school hours opening Amazon boxes, taking out sleeping bags, collecting invoices, and repackaging them for shipping.

“I wanted to make sure my kids knew how important this mission is and feel connected to our homeland,” Arthur said. “They were excited to know that they were helping our soldiers. The soldiers sent us thank you notes with pictures of them in our bags. Those photos made everyone, kids and adults, feel incredibly proud, connected and grateful.”

Eventually we sent 500 sleeping bags to IDF soldiers, helping them through the cold winter nights. Taking concrete action and contributing tangibly to the IDF, in addition to our prayers, changed our lives.

Alex sent us this message from Gaza. "When we receive your gifts, to us it is much more than a sleeping bag or a helmet or a warm undergarment. This is the realization that we are not alone in this war. We feel loved and supported by the Jewish people throughout the world. Together, we will win."

Yakov wrote, “It’s so important for us to know that the Jews from all over the world are lending a helping hand to the IDF soldiers, spending time, energy, and money to make our path to victory easier. This is a fulfillment of the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. The sleeping bag campaign warmed not only our bodies but also our hearts.”

This labor of love is still inspiring more people to support and donate. Our house is full of boxes with more sleeping bags, warm jackets, gloves, rain gear, energy packs, shoes, heating pads, winter undergarments and other useful items requested by the soldiers.

Yakov shared, "When guys from neighboring units notice our newly arrived sleeping bags, they humbly ask if they could be added to the donation list.”

We will continue to do what we can to support our heroes who risk their lives on behalf of the entire Jewish people. One thing is clear: each and every Jew, no matter where they live, needs to realize that this is their communal mission. Act now to support Israeli soldiers.