Israel At War: What You Can Do to Help Israel

The air raid siren pierced the air. I was in synagogue, celebrating the completion of reading the Torah, and we looked at each other mystified. Is this a mistake?

The distant boom of the patriot missile making contact with the Hamas’ rocket, along with the lingering white plume of smoke high up in the sky, answered the question. This was not a drill. There were seven or eight sirens in Jerusalem over the course of the morning, and rumors were swirling.

At the end of Shabbat, we discovered that the reality was far worse than the rumors. Unimaginably worse. Hundreds murdered, terrorists gunning down kids at a desert concert, families held hostage in their homes, and over 100 people -- including elderly women and small children -- kidnapped and dragged into Gaza, their fate unknown.

As I write with tears in my eyes, I am reminded of the last eight verses of the Torah that were read yesterday, including the words, “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there” (Deut. 34:5). The Talmud asks: “Is it possible that Moses could have written the words, 'Moses died there'?” One answer given is that Joshua, Moses’ disciple and successor, wrote those eight lines. Another answer is that God dictated and Moses wrote in tears." (Baba Bathra 15a)

There are many levels of meaning to the expression “Moses wrote in tears.” The simplest is that Moses, overcome with emotion in writing about his own death, wrote these verses while crying.

The Vilna Gaon, the great 18^th century Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer, explains that the Hebrew word for tears, “dima”, should be pronounced in a slightly different manner -- as “demua”, which means "mixed up, confusion." Moses wrote the letters of the verses scrambled, so he didn’t understand what he was actually writing. When your eyes are filled with tears, they obfuscate your vision and you can’t see clearly.

The nation of Israel is crying. The images are too horrific. The pain is too immense. The fear is too great.

Confusion abounds. How could something on this scale happen? Where was the Israeli army and its vaunted intelligence? Families are missing loved ones. Scores have been kidnapped. We all know people whose children and spouses were called up and deployed over Shabbat, and they, along with the entire country, anxiously await for updates and for what the next phase of the war will bring.

Right now is the time for tears, not words, not answers.

What You Can Do to Help

What can people around the world do during this dire time as Israel prepares for a war it did not seek?

If you are asking, “How can I help Israel?”, here are a few concrete actions that all of us can take.

1. Pray for Israel

Unload your burden and share your tears and fears with God. Pray for the missing civilians and soldiers; pray for the wounded; pray for the soldiers who are in harm’s way, serving to protect their country; pray for the families who have lost loved ones, and pray for the entire Jewish people.

Click here to join a chat group for reciting Psalms for soldiers and hostages.

Click here to send your prayer via the Western Wall.

There is a time-honored custom to recite Psalms in times of distress. King David wrote stirring words that echo our situation today. Recommended are Psalms 20, 83, 121,130 and 142.

Click here for the text of the Prayer for Israeli Soldiers.

2. Increase Torah study and the performance of a mitzvah, a commandment.

Every mitzvah, every good deed, increases light in the world and creates a spiritual force. Commit to increasing your performance of a mitzvah with the intention of creating a merit to help protect the people of Israel – whether it is giving charity, going to a class about Judaism, or committing to learning Torah for a few additional minutes every day. Your actions make a spiritual difference.

3. Host a Family

Due to the situation in the South, many families have been evacuated from their homes. These families need a place to stay, and there is a shortage of hosts. If you live in Israel, consider signing up to host an evacuated family here.

4. Work on Jewish Unity

The government and army were totally blindsided by this unprecedented attack. But what everyone did see leading up to this war was the unprecedented lack of unity in the country, between left and right, religious and non-religious. Many people felt that the very foundations of our country were being weakened.

What a tragedy that it takes a war to unite us. Unity doesn’t mean unanimity, that everyone is in full agreement. It means a basic respect and understanding of the other, a genuine attempt to see the reasonableness of the other side, their humanity, and to love them as a brother and sister.

During these fateful days let’s consciously work on decreasing the arguing and vilifying, and work on fostering genuine love and respect. We can only defeat the enemy if we are united.

5. Publicly Support Israel

Contact your elected officials and demand that they publicly support Israel and provide all assistance necessary to the Israeli government and its civilians. Call and write your representatives to have your voice heard.

Now more than ever, those outside of Israel can display public support for Israel. Just like Ukrainian flags and signs of support have been seen all over the world, the same should be done for Israel. Carry and display Israeli flags and signs outside of your home, on your backpacks, and in the windows of your cars. Attend a rally and let your voice be heard.

6. Give Financial Support

Your donation makes a real difference. Here are few possible options to consider:

Aish: Click here to strengthen the Jewish People’s connection to Israel in this difficult time.

Yad Eliezer: Click here to help support families affected by the war.

United Hatzalah: Click here to give money towards equipment for protective vests and helmets, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, trauma bandages, and tourniquets for first responders.

7. Be Vigilant

The war in Israel affects Jews around the world. All Jews are potential targets. If you see something suspicious, say something to security personnel or police.

8. Volunteer

You can donate blood. You can donate supplies and clothing for soldiers and civilians. You can order hot meals for those in need. You can volunteer to ship supplies to Israel. Get creative

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some charities supporting Israel? 

If you are looking to financially support Israel, consider the following charities: Aish, Yad Eliezer, and United Hatzalah.