As this awful war in Israel drags on, we are increasingly worried about the impacts on those beyond the front lines: the civilians who are dealing with extreme trauma, who have friends and family members who have been drafted, killed, kidnapped, or injured, the many who have been displaced from their homes, and all of those who have experienced a complete overturning of their daily lives and sense of security.
Since Hamas’s horrific first attack, the OU in Israel has been working tirelessly to provide for the material and emotional needs of the thousands of people we serve: our staff, at-risk teens, their families, olim, and the communities we serve - many of which have been hit especially hard. We are leaning into our existing networks and our professional expertise to provide critical aid.
You can provide our brothers and sisters in Israel with everything from emergency supplies, to desperately needed trauma counseling, to the indispensable feeling of community provided by our staff’s attendance at funerals and shiva houses, and their deliveries of chizuk packages for children.
All of that is happening on the ground right now, but we are also carefully analyzing the needs that will soon arise when the dust of the war settles – may the day come speedily – and our brothers and sisters are left to reckon with the aftermath. There will be much to repair, and the OU is preparing and committed to provide the necessary resources to rebuild the moment the need arises.