Israel Update • October 17, 2023

October 17, 2023

Dear Marketing,

We would like to share the important updates below with you regarding our community locally and in Israel.

RESOURCES OF SUPPORT

An editorial in the Dallas Morning News, authored in tandem by President and CEO of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation Megan Hyman and Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD) President and CEO Igor Alterman, aims to answer the question: What do your Jewish neighbors need? Read about how you can light up the world here [↗].

While Israelis continue to reel from the devastation, many US-based Jews are also experiencing grief and trauma. This inevitably spills over into the workplace. If you would like to help your employer effectively support their Jewish employees, pass along this helpful guide [↗] specifically designed for employers.

Jewish Federations joined along with 50 partner organizations to launch have launched #BlueRibbonsforIsrael, a unity campaign in support of the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists in Israel. Learn more here. Download your own #BlueRibbonforIsrael kit here [↗]. Tune in to watch [↗] the Emergency Leadership Mission for Israel where political leaders from across the spectrum, donning the #BlueRibbon, are joining Jewish Federation leaders and partner organizations at the event.

STATEMENTS FROM LOCAL LEADERS

JFGD President and CEO Igor Alterman, JFGD Board Member Bobby Gibbs, and Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commissioner Kenny Goldberg visited Washington DC today joining leadership from dozens of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and other Jewish organizations from across the US. Numerous elected and appointed officials shared expressions of support [↗] for Israel and the Jewish community.

Last Thursday, US Senator John Cornyn requested a meeting with JFGD, inviting a small group of Dallas community members who were able to provide personal accounts of Hamas’ attacks. Senator Cornyn referenced the meeting in remarks on the Senator floor [↗] yesterday and called for the US to provide Israel with the assistance it needs to protect its citizens.

SUPPORT ISRAEL NOW

Jewish Federations have collectively launched an unprecedented $500 million campaign to support Israel. This is the value of the Jewish Federations – the ability to respond quickly and effectively. Here in Dallas, JFGD Israel Emergency Campaign [↗] has already raised $1.7M. Every dollar raised in this special campaign goes directly to Israel.

Support Israel Now ↗

We aim to be #IsraelStrong in mind and body. Our friends at Tight Dallas are holding limited-availability, $25 pilates classes. 100% of the profits will go to the JFGD Emergency Campaign for Israel to help support victims of terror and provide psychological care, trauma relief, and medical services. Register now [↗] for one of several #IsraelStrong classes!

ISRAEL SITUATION UPDATE: Day 10

On day 11 of Israel’s War with Hamas, rocket fire has again slowed considerably as signs continue to indicate that Hamas may be losing some control. Nonetheless, the IDF warns that the terror group still holds large stocks of weapons.
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to land in Israel tomorrow (Wednesday) morning Israel Time, in a highly significant show of solidarity and support.
Across North America, the Jewish world, and of course in Israel itself, people continue to rally to support all those Israelis affected by the fighting.

THE HOME FRONT

Latest figures show that some 1,400 Israelis have been killed including more than 280 soldiers. Among the dead are over 40 babies. Close to 3,600 Israelis have been wounded. Officially, 199 victims are being held by Hamas, with additional people listed as missing. Among the dead are at least 29 US citizens, while some 15 Americans are listed as missing. At least 6,600 rockets have been launched into Israel from Gaza, with additional firings from Lebanon and Syria.

See here for a list of the names of those murdered that have been released so far, and here for a site in Hebrew with the names and photos of fallen soldiers. For infographics with the latest numbers from the conflict, see here.

The IDF says that it expects further such clips, featuring more of the captives. The IDF spokesperson commented, “This is psychological terror by Hamas against the citizens of Israel….. In this video, Hamas tries to present itself as a humanitarian organization while it is in fact a murderous terror group.” He says one must ask, “How did a 21-year-old girl who went to a party to dance, end up being kidnapped by a murderous terror group in the heart of Gaza?”

More and more accounts of the October 7 invasion are emerging. Listen here to an interview with an Israeli first responder who was on the ground during Saturday’s massacre.

Meanwhile, for the fourth straight night, there was no rocket fire from Gaza, although attacks have continued at a significantly slower rate during the day, including towards Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities in the center of the country. No major injuries were reported. In Jerusalem, the sirens sounded just as the Knesset was meeting in special session for the opening of its Winter Session. Members of Knesset had to rush from the plenary and enter shelters mid-session.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Earlier today, the head of the US Military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) landed in Israel. Gen. Michael Kurilla met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and others at the Kirya, Israel’s military headquarters where, in an unusual move, US military representatives took part in an IDF operational meeting. Kurilla said he has come to “gain a clear understanding of Israel’s defense requirements, outline US support efforts to avoid expansion of the conflict, and reiterate the Department of Defense’s ironclad support for Israel.”

In a similar move, yesterday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet, the first time a non-Israeli has ever taken part in these confidential discussions.

Last night, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel “had been attacked by brutal and abhorrent murderers, had gone to war determined and united, and would not stop until it had destroyed Hamas's military and governing capabilities.”

Meanwhile German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Israel today on a solidarity visit, as did New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu arrived in Jerusalem early this morning, accompanied by Defense Minister Angel Tîlvar, becoming the first world leader to visit since fighting began.

Yesterday, the Wexner Foundation announced that it is cutting ties with Harvard University over “the dismal failure of Harvard’s leadership to take a clear and unequivocal stand against the barbaric murders of innocent Israeli civilians by terrorists last Saturday.” The prestigious Wexner Foundation Fellowship includes a period of study at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of government. A letter from the foundation to Harvard Board of Overseers severing ties, goes on to say that many Israel fellows “feel abandoned” by the university.

OUR EFFORTS ON THE GROUND

Israelis of all stripes have come together to support soldiers and bolster morale in the country.

Some 600 people, mainly families with small children, are leaving the southern town of Ofakim (that was attacked by Hamas last Saturday) for a week, to stay at hotels in Eilat as part of an initiative by local technology companies. Israeli tech giants Fiver and HiBob, as well as other firms, are leading the effort to provide some respite to residents of the town, which saw some 50 people killed on the first day of the war. Ofakim, a city of 34,000, located 15 miles from the Strip, does not fall under the national evacuation plan for communities on the southern and northern borders ahead of the Gaza ground operation.

With the danger real for so many soldiers on the front waiting to enter Gaza, numerous engaged (and other) couples have chosen to hastily wed before the next stage of the war begins. Many partners have traveled to the front for these ceremonies, and the IDF put together this short clip showing some of the weddings.

Also see this letter from the leadership of the Weizmann Institute for Science, calling on scientists across the world to stand up to terrorism and support Israel at this dark hour.

See here for an article on how much the Israeli economy is suffering as a result of the war.

The IDF Spokesperson reiterated today that the IDF has all required equipment for its soldiers. Some 17,000 additional kevlar body armor plates arrived in Israel earlier. These were purchased by the Ministry of Defense and will be fitted in the coming days. Some equipment that had been sent by donors to the IDF was tested and found to be unsuitable for battle conditions and could, if distributed to soldiers, put their lives in danger. He reiterated that only the Ministry of Defense is authorized to procure equipment for the IDF, either from its own budget or from the emergency fund created by the Association for the Israeli Soldier (and its US branch, FIDF). See more here.

The Jewish Agency for Israel

In hospitals nationwide, ITC trained resilience professionals are working around the clock to provide emotional first aid, support, and self-care to their colleagues.

The Bedouin community, especially the tens of thousands of people living in “unrecognized” or unofficial villages, with no system of emergency alerts or shelters, are particularly vulnerable during this war. In one unrecognized village, a family was directly hit by a Hamas rocket and all four members of the family were killed instantly. The number of Bedouins killed during the war stands at 20, of which at least five were from the town of Rahat. ITC and the Bedouin Resilience Center are working to train therapists and teachers in psychosocial care and support working in schools and providing on-line and telephone support. Guidelines in Arabic, culturally adapted for the Bedouin community, have been distributed to all the communities.

Across the board, there is a desperate need to provide targeted training, support, and self-care tools to trauma teams from specific population groups. For example, Ukrainian therapists who made Aliyah within the last 5 years are being trained by ITC to provide psychosocial services to Ukrainian and Russian speakers in Israel.

Jewish Federations of North America

Jewish Federations have launched an unprecedented $500 million campaign to support Israel. See more here.

For those in Israel – or with family or friends there – who are looking for help, critical information about the situation on the ground, or other assistance, see this resource page put together by Jewish Federations.

See also this Jewish Federations information page on requests for personal protective equipment which are circulating and this update regarding volunteering.

Readers can access a Jewish Federations toolkit of resources here. For full details about the home front and military operations, see this update.

The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war to defend herself against Hamas, and will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they work to build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center here.

Our Israel Office, having activated emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update as the situation develops.