Last Motzaei Shabbat, the 天美传媒视频 community united for a profound gathering marking 天美传媒视频鈥檚 55th Anniversary. Themed “Am Echad B鈥橪ev Echad” (One Nation With One Heart), the evening celebrated the 天美传媒视频 community鈥檚 enduring dedication to Israel.

As the culmination of 天美传媒视频鈥檚 Anniversary Campaign, the program placed Israel at the forefront, showcasing the many ways the 天美传媒视频 community has been actively serving, safeguarding, aiding, and advocating for our brothers and sisters in Israel and Jews worldwide through acts of Service, Chesed, Tzedakah, Advocacy, and Education.

The event paid tribute to 天美传媒视频 alumni and community members courageously defending Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael in Israel, on college campuses, and beyond. Through musical performances and presentations, the evening honored 天美传媒视频 alumni reservists, advocates, the generous and selfless spirit of its community, and its faculty, all of whom model the 天美传媒视频 mission and values it strives to instill in its students every day.

A solemn moment was dedicated to remembering fallen soldiers, among them former 天美传媒视频 faculty member Yossi Hershkovitz z”l and the nephews of 天美传媒视频 president Jack Bendheim, Sgt. First Class (res.) Ben Zussman z”l and Sgt. Major Yosef Malachi Guedalia z鈥漧. Hallel, daughter of Yossi Hershkovitz z鈥漧, killed in Gaza in November, accompanied the 天美传媒视频 High School String Ensemble in its moving performance of a composition her father wrote while on the frontlines. Guests joined in reciting tehillim and tefilot for the chayalim and hostages, while being uplifted by stirring performances from the 天美传媒视频 and High School choirs, as well as from the parent and faculty community.

Congressman Ritchie Torres addressed the audience, underscoring the 天美传媒视频 community鈥檚 inspiring ties to Israel and its students鈥� readiness, knowledge, and empathy.

鈥淲hat gives me hope is that places like 天美传媒视频 are cultivating the next generation of leaders and defenders of one of the most important friendships humanity has ever seen, the U.S.-Israel relationship,鈥� Torres remarked.

鈥溙烀来绞悠� is preparing its students by instilling in them a readiness to fight for the rights of the Jewish people and Israel without fear of harassment, hate, intimidation, or violence. By supporting 天美传媒视频, everyone in this room has played a part in empowering these students, nurturing their voices, and ensuring they have the tools to carry the torch in defending Israel for generations to come.鈥�

Speakers representing the community showcased its proactive support for Israel, spanning active, educational, political, and financial contributions, including the 天美传媒视频 Supports Israel Fund, which has raised over $1 million in grants for Israel to date.

The gathering, attended by nearly 1,000 guests including parents, grandparents, alumni, community leaders, and dignitaries such as Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, and City Council member Eric Dinowitz, affirmed the community鈥檚 unwavering support for Israel through presence and solidarity.

For those who missed it or want to relive the evening鈥檚 program, it can be viewed and photos can be viewed .

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The 天美传媒视频 community has had the unique opportunity to welcome Amit and Tomer Ades, a displaced family from Kfar Aza who survived the attack of October 7. Before they return to Israel, we had the unique opportunity for our students to share with the Ades family and help us in supporting Israel. Tomer, who owns “,” hummus restaurants in the south and Jerusalem, taught 天美传媒视频 students how to prepare his signature hummus last Friday. Students shared this unique hands-on experience with Tomer and families (who pre-ordered) enjoyed freshly made hummus just in time for Shabbat! Proceeds from the over 300 containers of fresh hummus and pita sold are going to help support the employees of Tomer’s HaHummus Shel Techina restaurant location in Sderot.

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On our first night in Israel, while walking back to the bus after a meaningful dinner in Modiin, I was stopped by a man asking us who we were. As a New Yorker, accustomed to ignoring strangers in the streets, I instinctively kept walking. But suddenly, remembering where I was, I turned around, saw his kippah and warmed up to his familiarity. I struggled with my words and in my broken Hebrew I explained to this stranger that we were here in solidarity from the United States, seeing how we can help in any way. He paused. His eyes welled up with tears and he simply said, 鈥淭hank you–this means so much to us. This means the world.鈥�

Over the next three days, we were graciously invited to meet with United Hatzalah, Brothers in Arms, and representatives from Sderot. Farmers who needed workers in Pri Gan, soldiers in hospital beds, families of those taken hostage. We heard their stories, we listened and while we were also aware of the needs and the financial pressures they face and will continue to face in the coming months and years, what most stood out was their appreciation of us just being there. Like the man on the street in Modiin who had nothing to gain, our presence was more important than our purpose. Our presence became our purpose.

My cousin, a mother of five, called out to me and we immediately hugged. I felt the embrace so hard. She is a strong, proud woman and hugged me tighter than I ever knew she could. She was excited to see me and repeated how grateful she was. I showed her the bag of toys and she said, 鈥淲here am I going to put all of this?鈥� She was grateful, but she didn鈥檛 care about the bag of toys; she wanted to see us.

When we were able to visit displaced families at the Dead Sea, I personally was excited; our cousins, who live in Sa鈥檃d, a kibbutz in the south that was miraculously spared, were being temporarily housed in Hotel Nevo along with their neighbors. I prepared and brought toys, clothes, and iPads for our family members. The 天美传媒视频 mission brought activities and games and played with the young children of the kibbutz in tents lined up in the hotel parking lot that served as temporary classrooms. I got off the bus with my large suitcase and looked around for my family.

My cousin, a mother of five, called out to me and we immediately hugged. I felt the embrace so hard. She is a strong, proud woman and hugged me tighter than I ever knew she could. She was excited to see me and repeated how grateful she was. I showed her the bag of toys and she said, 鈥淲here am I going to put all of this?鈥� She was grateful, but she didn鈥檛 care about the bag of toys; she wanted to see us.

On our last day, we spoke with a survivor from Kfar Aza. We bore witness to the terror she experienced, to the courage she and her husband had to find to remain calm throughout to protect her children from her own fears. She hid in her bomb shelter for 36 hours while her neighbors were being killed outside of her home. She showed up to tell us her story, and we listened. We showed up for her to witness her story, to ensure her stories were repeated and that people know what happened to them.

And when we hear these stories, I think many of us are often unsure of what to say, or worry about saying the wrong things. As I approached the speaker to thank her, I felt apprehensive; should I say 鈥淵ou are an inspiration鈥� or 鈥淲ow, what a great mother you are;鈥� Do my words actually make them feel better? Is there anything I really could have said to relieve their immense pain? But as I reflect, I am not sure my words meant as much as the hug we shared, or the gaze we held in each other鈥檚 eyes, in our bodies physically being there for them to fall on, to touch, to see.

My heart is struck by my memory of a survivor from Ain Hashlosha. As she told us her story, standing there with two young children at her legs, and a pregnant belly, she bravely told us how she survived and how she continues to survive alone as her husband is now fighting in Gaza.

At the end, she repeated, 鈥渁in li milim, ain li milim.鈥� And sometimes you don鈥檛 have to have the words. Sometimes you just have to show up.

What We Can Do Now to Help
I encourage everyone to do what they can to simply show up. Show up for survivors, for our friends and family, for Am Yisrael. But since we can’t all physically be there, let’s commit to writing letters or emails. It may seem simple to you, but it may mean the world to them. 天美传媒视频 can help make sure the letters are personally distributed; to be formatted and delivered on your behalf.

The 天美传媒视频 Supports Israel Fund
Your support enables us to extend our reach to many corners, addressing the many diverse needs that continue to present themselves, and hopefully make a significant impact.

The post Beyond Words – Reflections from the Mission appeared first on 天美传媒视频.

In the tapestry of my life, woven with countless threads of visits to Israel over the past 30 years, one recent journey with the 天美传媒视频 Mission stands out as a vivid and transformative chapter. From the moment I touched down at Ben Gurion airport to the bittersweet departure back to the States, the experience was a rollercoaster of emotions shared with the 70-strong 天美传媒视频 family.

Amidst the remarkable moments, one encounter at the Royal Hotel in the Dead Sea left an indelible mark on my heart. Walking through the makeshift schools set up in the hotel, we were introduced to two extraordinary souls 鈥� Sholomit and Mia, volunteer teachers dedicated to nurturing the minds of children from displaced families.

Sholomit, a retired teacher from Kiray Gad, responded to a call on Facebook for educators. Five days a week, she transforms a hotel into a classroom, pouring her wisdom into fourth graders. Married to a police officer and supported by her three grown daughters, Sholomit embodies selflessness. Then there’s Mia, a 21-year-old in the throes of acquiring her teaching credentials. Both exude enthusiasm, armed with a clear goal: to provide a warm, nurturing, and safe haven for their students.

In these , reminiscent of 天美传媒视频, challenges abound. Children, once strangers from the same town, grapple with restlessness, often checking on the well-being of siblings. The trauma they’ve endured surfaces in their behavior and reflections. Establishing a consistent routine is a hurdle when attendance is irregular, and the hotel life lacks the private spaces families need.

Yet, in the face of adversity, what resonates is the boundless love and tireless dedication of Sholomit and Mia. In my 37 years of educational exposure, I’ve witnessed nothing quite like it. They embody the essence of Mishle’s wisdom, recognizing that the first step to effective teaching is winning the trust of the heart. Only then does the heart open to receive.

Sholomit and Mia are on a mission, responding to the call of service to their people and their nation. Their devotion is unparalleled, reflecting the best of Am Yisrael. It’s in their empathic hearts and sympathetic ears that they meet children at their emotional core. Their love knows no bounds, and in their efforts, they weave a tapestry of hope for the future.

As I reflect on this encounter, I am uplifted by the shining examples of humanity in Sholomit and Mia. In their dedication and personal sacrifice, I find hope for a brighter tomorrow for the future of the Jewish People, where the resilience of the human spirit triumphs over adversity. Their story is a testament to the enduring strength and love that binds us all as one family.

The 天美传媒视频 Supports Israel Fund
Your support enables us to extend our reach to many corners, addressing the many diverse needs that continue to present themselves, and hopefully make a significant impact.

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讘专讜讱 讗转讛 讛壮 讗诇拽讬谞讜 诪诇讱 讛注讜诇诐 诪转讬专 讗住讜专讬诐
Blessed are You, Eternal God who frees the captive.

When 天美传媒视频 announced its Solidarity Mission to Israel, instinctually, so many wanted to join – to join in the mission to support our brothers and sisters in Israel, to join in the mission to bring chizuk to our loved ones in Israel, to join in the mission to become educated firsthand on the state of our beloved Medinat Yisrael and to join in the mission to stand as one with Am Yisrael.

We left our families with heavy hearts, but also with confidence that the choice to travel to Israel at this time was a must. We felt a strong obligation to connect and share our love with our family, our friends, and all of Am Yisrael.

This was not our first visit to Israel during a time of war, but never before had we felt a visit was so urgent. Arriving in an almost empty airport, greeted only by the pictures of the 240 hostages lining the walkways was eerie and powerful, as though each hostage was looking deep into our eyes and asking us to be their voice, to fight for them, not to forget them.

Our first stop was Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, a gathering place for families and supporters of those held by Hamas. While the artistic phenomenon has been adopted in many communities, seeing the 鈥渙riginal,鈥� in Israel, made it all the more powerful. The now famous Shabbat table stood in the center, set for 240 people who at that point were not yet home, even in the rain, symbolic that there is no break from this crisis. Each place setting representing an individual story, a family, a future that was interrupted.

Simultaneously, it evoked sadness and fear for the hostages, as we wondered, How are they faring in the rain? What conditions are they living in? And of course, praying for the safety and security of each and every one of them.

That morning, among the many white tents pitched in the square, we met a young woman keeping vigil. She emerged from the family tent where hostage families have been encamped. Her name was Darya; she was 18 years old, and she shared with us the story of her sister, Romi Gonen. Romi, 23, lives in Northern Israel and attended the Nova music festival on October 7th. She was taken hostage, had tried to escape, hid for over two hours, called home, and spoke to her mother who had tried to reassure her that they would rescue her. But, ultimately, she was captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza. Her phone location was the only clue to her whereabouts.

Darya shared with us that it gives her strength to share Romi鈥檚 story, who she is, and what her interests are. She gains strength from visitors. Wearing a t-shirt with Romi鈥檚 picture, she chooses to come each day because she does not want to be alone and being at Hostage Square gives her the courage to face each day. She expressed her belief that Romi is okay, that she is strong, and likely taking care of the toddler hostages.

Many of us approached Darya to hug her and talk to her, to tell her that she is not alone. Specifically, we shared that we were visiting from 天美传媒视频, a school in New York and that our day does not begin until we have gathered as a community to demonstrate our love, support and emunah. While the Gonens are a secular family, when they learned that we pray every day for the safe return of the hostages, they were overwhelmed with gratitude. We shared videos of our morning tefilot, which we were told was perhaps one of the most meaningful efforts they were aware of.

Our daily prayers have taken on new meaning, and tefilot that we may not have intimately felt the meaning of before, have been given new life. For me, this is best exemplified in Bircat Hashachar. The blessing of Matir Asurim took on even greater meaning. It had become personal and the number of people who we prayed to be released from captivity was immeasurable. So many individuals, so many individual stories, so much individual pain and sorrow. And yet, it is collective. We all share in the pain of each of the hostages and their families.

Over the course of the 天美传媒视频 mission, we were charged with being ambassadors – ambassadors of the individual story and of the collective experience. It is our responsibility to carry these stories with us, ensuring that the voices of the victims, the heroes, all the people we have met, echo far and wide. We vowed to show honor to Romi Gonen by committing to sharing her story with our community. Please keep her, and all the hostages, in your prayers.

Since that visit, we have been fortunate to see nearly 70 hostages released and reunited with their families. We continue to pray for the safe release of all the hostages b鈥檏arov.

What We Can Do to Help
We ALL have a responsibility to encourage our representatives to support Israel and to urge our government to do everything in its power to help with the release of ALL hostages. We should also remember to give thanks to those who are standing for Israel!

Check out the 天美传媒视频 advocacy toolkit for a list of elected officials, their contact info, and key talking points and actionable steps for voicing your support for Israel. The volume of messages matter.

The 天美传媒视频 Supports Israel Fund
Your support enables us to extend our reach to many corners, addressing the many diverse needs that continue to present themselves, and hopefully make a significant impact.

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On the first day of our mission, our final stop was to the Hershkovitz family in G鈥檝aot. My heart was pulling me there from the moment I heard the devastating news of Yossi鈥檚 z”l death. G鈥檝aot is a small yishuv in the Gush that integrates people with disabilities into a typical community. It makes perfect sense that that is where the Hershkovitz鈥檚 chose to live when they returned from 天美传媒视频 to their home in Israel seven years ago.

As we got off the bus, we saw three large white tents set up adjacent to their home to accommodate the thousands who had visited throughout shiva. There was a large sign hanging on the house demonstrating that we, as a nation, remain united and refrain from speaking lashon hara about one another.

Hadas got up from shiva the day we visited. Earlier in the day she had been to Yossi鈥檚 kever for the aliya la鈥檏ever at Har Herzl and then at Shaare Tzedek visiting Yossi鈥檚 friend Elisha Medan (Elisha Yehuda ben Ruti) and other chayalim who were injured. Surrounded by her children – Beeri, Halel, Tal, Shira, and Neta – and close friends and family, including Esti Schwartz and Einav Rosen, Hadas graciously welcomed her 天美传媒视频 family into her home.

We brought some games that we quietly gave to the kids knowing that they could not and would not take away any of the pain, but wanting to give what we could to express our love for the family.

Rabbi Krauss gave Hadas the plaque of the congressional record entered by Congressman Ritchie Torres, eulogizing Yossi.

The pain was deep and too raw to bear. We cried and hugged and reminisced and wanted to hear more.

Yossi went to serve at the age of 44 because he was on a mission to defend and restore the pride and strength of Am Yisrael following the turmoil of the past year and the massacre that took place on October 7th. We were not surprised to hear from friends that his upbeat, light-hearted, and spiritual nature energized his unit. Hadas鈥檚 brother, Ori, who served alongside him, emphasized Yossi鈥檚 role in providing strength to the chayalim: “Hu chizek, chizek v鈥檆hizek” – “He strengthened, strengthened, and strengthened.”

Yossi鈥檚 unit entered Gaza, and he led them to Beit Hanoun. The soldier that stood next to him recounted that as they entered amidst the bright flares and explosive sounds, Yossi remarked, 鈥淲e are seeing and hearing the thunder and lightning鈥擨 feel like I am at Har Sinai.鈥� This statement encapsulates Yossi鈥檚 unique approach to the mission, blending a sense of purpose with spiritual reverence.

This mindset was similarly reflected in a letter that Hadas shared. While in Gaza, Yossi wrote to his staff thanking them for covering at the Pelech school in his absence. His message was one of 鈥淗ineni.鈥� Yossi was answering Hashem鈥檚 call and the call of Am Yisrael.

“讗诇讛讬, 注讚 砖诇讗 谞讜爪专转讬 讗讬谞讬 讻讚讗讬, 讜注讻砖讬讜 砖谞讜爪专转讬, 讻讗讬诇讜 诇讗 谞讜爪专转讬鈥�” “讜讬讗诪专 讛谞谞讬” “讛谞谞讬 诇讻讛讜谞讛, 讛谞谞讬 诇诪诇讻讜转 讛拽讘”讛 拽讜专讗: “讗讘专讛诐 讗讘专讛诐”, 讜讛转砖讜讘讛 “讛谞谞讬”. “讛谞谞讬” – 诇讻诇 砖诇讬讞讜转 诪讟注诐 讛讛砖讙讞讛 讛注诇讬讜谞讛. 诇讻诇 驻拽讜讚讛 诪讗转 讛’. 讙诐 讛拽砖讛 讜讛谞砖讙讘讛 讘讬讜转专. “讛谞谞讬” 鈥� 诪讬讚, 讜诇诇讗 砖讗诇讛, 讜诇诇讗 转谞讗讬. “讛谞谞讬” 鈥� 讻讜诇讬, 诇诇讗 砖讬注讜专 讜诇诇讗 砖讬讜专. 讜诪住转讘专: “讛谞谞讬” 砖诇 讗讘专讛诐 讗讘讬谞讜 讛讜讗 转讜专讛 诇讝专注 讗讘专讛诐 诇讚讜专讜转 注讜诇诐. 讗讚诐 诪讬砖专讗诇, 诇驻讬 讻讜讞讜, 讝诪谞讜 讜诪拽讜诪讜. 爪专讬讱 诇讜诪专: “讛谞谞讬” 鈥� 诇讗砖专 谞讚专砖 诪诪谞讜 诇驻讬 讻讜讞讜 讜讘讗讜转讜 讝诪谉 讜讘讗讜转讜 诪拽讜诐. “讛谞谞讬” 鈥� 诇讻诇 讗砖专 讬讬讚专砖 诇讻诇诇 讜诇驻专讟. 诇讻诇 砖诇讬讞讜转, 讗诐 谞注讬诪讛 讜讗诐 讘诇转讬 谞注讬诪讛, 讗诐 拽诇讛 讜讗诐 拽砖讛. 讗诐 砖诇 讛驻住讚 讜讗诐 砖诇 砖讻专鈥� “讛谞谞讬” 鈥� 讛讬讗 讛讚专讱: 讚专讱 讛讗讚诐 讘注讜诇诪讜 砖诇 讛拽讘”讛. (讛专讘 讗诇讬诪诇讱 讘专 砖讗讜诇 专讬讞 诪讬诐) 诪讝讛 砖诇讜砖讛 砖讘讜注讜转 讗谞讜 谞诪爪讗讬诐 讘诪诇讞诪讛 讗讜转讛 讘讬拽砖 讛拽讘”讛 诪讗讬转谞讜. 砖谞讻讘讛 讗转 讗砖 讛专讜注 讘注讜诇诐 讜谞驻讬抓 讟讜讘 讜谞砖诪讬讚 讗转 讛专注 讛拽讘”讛 砖诇讞 讗讜转讬 讻专讙注 诇诪砖讬诪讛 讗讞专转 讜诇讻谉 讛转谞转拽转讬 讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 诇讛讜讚讜转 诇讻讜诇讻诐 注诇 讛讛转讙讬讬住讜转 讛诪专砖讬诪讛 诇讚讜专讜谉 讘转讬讛 砖诇拽讞讜 驻讬拽讜讚 讜讬讞讚 注讬诪讜 爪讜讜转 讛讛谞讛诇讛 砖注讜讘讚讬诐 诪住讘讬讘 诇砖注讜谉 讜诇讻讜诇讻诐 砖谞讜砖讗讬诐 讘谞讟诇 讙讚讜诇 讻诇 讗讞讚 讜讗讞转.. 讻讜诇谞讜 讻专讙注 诪诪砖讬讻讬讜 砖诇 讗讘专讛诐 讻诇 讗讞讚 讘”讛谞谞讬” 砖诇讜. 诇讻诇 诪砖讬诪讛. 转转讞讝拽讜 讜讗诇 转讬专讗讜 “讜砖讗讘转诐 诪讬诐 讘砖砖讜谉 诪诪注讬讬谞讬 讛讬砖讜注讛” 讻讬 讛讬砖讜注讛 讛讝讗转 拽专讜讘讛 诇讘讜讗. 讗讜讛讘 讜诪注专讬讱 讗转 讻讜诇讻诐 砖讘转 砖诇讜诐

Loosely translated into English:

鈥淗akadosh Baruch Hu calls 鈥淎vraham, Avraham鈥� and the answer is 鈥淗ineni鈥�. Hineni without question, Hineni without limits. Avraham鈥檚 Hineni is a Torah for all future generations. Every person, according to their place, time and strengths needs to answer Hineni to what is asked of him. For every mission, easy or hard, one that comes with gains one that comes with loss. Hineni is the way. For these three weeks that we have been at war, Hashem has asked this of us. He has asked that we extinguish the fire of evil from the world, and spread goodness. At the moment, Hashem has sent me on a mission which is why I have not been reachable for school matters. I want to thank Doron and Batya and the entire team for taking on my responsibilities at school. I know that you are all working around the clock. Each of us, as descendants of Avraham Avinu are currently in their personal “Hineni鈥� mission. Stay strong and do not be afraid. Draw forth strength, for the salvation is near. With love and appreciation to all of you. Shabbat Shalom.

Hadas shared with us a featuring IDF Col. Golan Voch during a moving shiva visit. Col. Golan Voch, renowned for his search and rescue expertise spanning two decades, has aided in disasters worldwide, including Surfside, Florida, and the recent earthquake in Turkey. Golan Voch was in Beeri and Reim on October 7th and then joined Yossi鈥檚 unit as they prepared to enter Gaza and take over Beit Hanoun. His proficiency in dealing with rubble and collapsed buildings proved invaluable in navigating the challenging terrain.

During a night of shmira (guard duty), Yossi and Golan, both musically talented, bonded even further. Yossi hummed a tune and Golan asked, “What is that song?”. Yossi replied that it was not a tune he would know, as he had been composing it himself in his mind over the past few weeks, incorporating the words from Tehillim: “讙诐 讻讬 讗诇讱 讘讙讬讗 爪诇诪讜讜转 诇讗 讗讬专讗 专注 讻讬 讗转讛 注诪讚讬” – “Even when I walk in the valley of death, I will not fear because you Hashem are with me.” Golan, moved by the melody, asked Yossi to teach it to him. They sang it back and forth throughout guard duty until Golan mastered the tune. Tragically, a few days later, Yossi was killed in Gaza along with Maj. (res.) Moshe Yedidyah Leiter z”l, Master Sgt. (res.) Matan Meir z”l, and Master Sgt. (res.) Sergey Shmerkin z”l. Golan, grieving the loss, was unable to recall the melody, regretting deeply not recording Yossi singing it as he never expected Yossi would not return. However, during Yossi’s funeral, amidst the somber music, the tune suddenly came back to Golan. When he came to be menachem avel during shiva, he pulled out a guitar and tearfully played the song

One night of shiva, Yossi鈥檚 students filled the tents and sang and shared stories of what Yossi meant to them as their principal and mentor. Hadas was appreciative of the many 天美传媒视频 students and teachers that came to visit throughout shiva as well, sharing the profound impact the Yom HaZikaron programs that she and Yossi created for the school had on them. Yossi and Hadas left 天美传媒视频 seven years ago and many graduates still feel very connected. Likewise, Hadas felt equally connected to them, noting the strength and closeness of the 天美传媒视频 family.

Hadas mentioned that her last musical gig with Yossi took place this past Chol Hamoed Sukkot, (just days before Yossi was called to serve). They went to the hospital together to bring some joy to patients on the chag. This is quintessential Yossi and Hadas, he on his violin and she on her flute, sharing their love and music with others. That is the way they interacted with the world–with soulfulness, sensitivity, and joy.

The hour was late. Before we knew it, we had been at the Hershkovitz home for an hour and a half. We hugged Hadas and her kids and her family members and friends. We all felt deep pain and wanted to be mechazek in any way that we could. We walked away, both stunned and strengthened by the stories of heroism, big and small, that we had heard. As the bus pulled out of G’vaot we were all silent. The pain was searing. There was much to process. I was thinking about how many people have been impacted by the loss of this one precious soul and how we could help and show our support to the family.

There is a long road ahead for healing and for nechama from this tragedy and what will help us through is our strength in unity, emunah, and answering our call of “Hineni”.

What We Can Do to Help
As a nation, we grieve together. Despite the physical distance that separates us, we can offer support to those in grief by writing letters. Letters to the Nation is a WhatsApp group posting information about fallen soldiers or civilians killed and explaining how to email brief condolence letters. These messages will be printed out and personally delivered to grieving families, including the Hershkovitz family, showing global Jewish solidarity during this challenging time. Together, we extend our love and support, bridging the physical gaps that separate us. Join here.

The 天美传媒视频 Supports Israel Fund
Your support enables us to extend our reach to many corners, addressing the many diverse needs that continue to present themselves, and hopefully make a significant impact.

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We experienced the pervasive sense of grieving that could be found all over. At the same time, we experienced the strength of an entire people, bonding over a common mission of supporting each other, from trauma therapists traveling daily to yam hamelach to work with kids from the south to new olim making carnivals for families where a father has been out of the house for thirty days. 

We met with hostage families holding vigil outside of the Tel Aviv museum and visited soldiers recovering from their harrowing experiences at Sheba and Shaare Tzedek hospitals. We actively volunteered for organizations committed to mobilizing their services to offer assistance where it’s most needed and met with entrepreneurs spending 70 percent of their time on resettling refugees or providing supplies and doing what the government hasn鈥檛 been able to do.

We traveled South to help the shorthanded farmers of Pri Gan clear their trees of ready-to-pick avocados and visited Sderot, a devastated city now frozen in time, as sukkot still stand on people鈥檚 patios and clothes still hanging from the clotheslines. At Yam HaMelach, we tried to bring chizuk to displaced families, refugees in their own country, living out of hotel rooms in the Dead Sea resort area turned makeshift community and met with the trauma therapists and teachers who have mobilized to create whatever routine and support possible for the impacted children.

We came together for an evening of chizuk for 250 天美传媒视频 alumni, former teachers, former Principals Rabbi Yonah Fuld and Rabbi Joel Cohn, and a greeting from US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, an 天美传媒视频 grandparent and Riverdale resident just two weeks into his tenure at the most challenging time in many decades.

Throughout the trip, we witnessed firsthand the magnitude of the devastation and the pressing needs of soldiers, displaced families, and traumatized children, highlighting an unprecedented situation in the history of Medinat Yisrael. Your support is crucial in enabling us to continue our assistance efforts. Please contribute to the , empowering us to provide aid wherever possible.

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