Israel Update • October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023

Dear Marketing,

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

COMMUNITY SECURITY IN DALLAS

Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas is aware of calls for individuals and groups around the world to dedicate Friday, October 13, 2023, to pro-Hamas activism. While no direct, credible threats have been identified at this time, the situation remains dynamic. In conjunction with the Secure Community Network (SCN) and Anti-Defamation League (ADL), JFGD is proactively tracking and monitoring both current and future protests and/or threats for security and safety impacts to Jewish institutions and community members. Jewish institutions should assess their current security operations and ensure appropriate levels of situational awareness are being exercised. Should any specific credible threats become known, JFGD will issue an additional press release.

LOCAL UPDATES

This week, our community responded to devastating news with immediate action. Waves of volunteers, community leaders, and elected officials did not hesitate to coordinate with us at Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD) in pursuit of a strong and vibrant Israel.

Together, we accomplished incredible feats of dedication and love to honor Israel and support those impacted. In the past four days, Jewish Dallas:

JFGD volunteer and executive leadership urged action in a private meeting with Senator John Cornyn (TX) and advocated strongly for swift and decisive US Senate support for Israel.

Works towards our $2.5 million goal for the JFGD Israel Emergency Campaign [↗] with $1.45M already raised as we funnel these donations to vetted partners on the ground. Every dollar raised in this special campaign goes directly to Israel.

Held a Community-wide Solidarity Gathering welcoming over 3,000 in-person and online supporters. View the recording here [↗].

Encouraged City Mayor Eric Johnson to make a formal proclamation [↗] condemning Hamas and standing with Israel. Dallas City Council passed the statement with a unanimous vote on Wednesday morning.

Supported those impacted by connecting them with important resources [↗] and a space to share their personal story.

Gave a voice to our community with a form that automatically notifies elected officials [↗] and encourages them to stand in support of Israel.

Partnered closely with JFGD Board Members, Councilwoman Mendelsohn, Councilwoman Schultz, Mayor Johnson, and local organizations to light downtown Dallas with electrifyingly blue lights on Wednesday evening to show the world that our city supports Israel.

Every day, Jewish Dallas shows passion, determination, and Southern hospitality in the face of threats and fear. JFGD has never felt more proud to represent Jewish Dallas. We are confident that your help will ensure a stronger and more vibrant Jewish community in Dallas, Israel, and throughout the world [↗].

Support Israel Now ↗

ISRAEL SITUATION UPDATE: Day 6

More than 1,300 Israelis killed, including at least 220 soldiers, 22 US citizens and 2 Canadians
Some 3,300 Israelis wounded, including 350 in serious condition
Over 6,000 rockets fired at Israel
An estimated 150 Israelis being held hostage in Gaza
For those 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 update on requests for personal protective equipment which are circulating.

On Day 6 of Israel’s war with Hamas, the casualty rate has again risen, reaching 1300 Israelis killed. In a massive display of unity with Israel, Jewish Federations have held (or are planning) some 120 solidarity gatherings in communities across North America, as part of an unprecedented effort to support Israel. See here for more.

THE HOME FRONT

Funerals took place across Israel yesterday, with many more scheduled for today as the country begins the heart-wrenching task of burying its dead. 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.

Most people from the towns around Gaza have been evacuated, leaving authorities continuing the grim task of collecting bodies, and surveying the severe damage. At the same time, tales of heroism are emerging from the first day of fighting. Read some inspiring stories here.

During the upcoming Shabbat, Channel 14 will broadcast a “Gal Shaket” to be used for the Shabbat-observant public. During Shabbat, Home Front Command personnel will be on the channel to deliver life-saving instructions. The otherwise silent broadcast will also provide a solution to the hearing impaired, with text instructions provided simultaneously.

Similarly, Israeli carrier El Al, which does not fly on Shabbat, announced it would be operating special flights on Shabbat to carry the large number of IDF reservists who are trying to fly back to Israel to join their IDF units.

ISRAELI RESPONSE

With 360,000 reserve soldiers called, in addition to the regular standing army, almost every family in Israel is directly connected to the fighting. See video footage here of reserve soldiers preparing for battle earlier today. Since Saturday, the IDF has already carried out strikes against more than 2,650 targets across the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas sources, some 1,200 Palestinians – most of them Hamas militants – have been killed in Israeli strikes, in addition to the 1,500 terrorists killed during the initial invasion into Israel on Saturday.

Israel’s Energy Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed that Israel will not reconnect Gaza’s electricity supply until the hostages held by Hamas are released. The IDF maintains that there is no shortage of essential equipment for soldiers, although acknowledges some logistical challenges resulting from the unprecedented call-up and large number of reserve troops in active service (see photos here).

Today, the IDF announced that it has already successfully:

Provided hundreds of heavy weaponry units to IDF units.
Supplied 24,000 tons of infrastructure materials (asphalt, gravel, and earthworks).
Employed over 60 construction companies to assist the IDF.
Established 5 factories for the production of protective equipment.
Rented hundreds of generators.
Prepared approximately 1,500 buses for transporting IDF soldiers, focused mainly on reserve forces.
Delivered over 1,000 carriers, semi-trailers, trucks, and around 1,200 rental vehicles to combat forces.
Distributed a wide variety of equipment including baby food to the residents of the city of Sderot.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Last night, a first shipment of equipment for the IDF from the US Government arrived in Israel and is already being deployed.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Thursday morning to express the solidarity of the United States with Israel. Among other meetings, he has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and will meet with the families of American citizens abducted by Hamas.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with 31 NATO defense ministers who were gathering in Brussels earlier today. Gallant spoke of the atrocities committed by Hamas against children, women, men, and the elderly. Gallant also presented an unreleased and uncensored video of some of the horrific acts committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as foreign nationals who were either kidnapped or killed.

JEWISH FEDERATION PARTNERS ON THE GROUND

The Jewish Agency for Israel

Some 40 more grants were distributed by the Jewish Agency’s Fund for the Victims of Terror yesterday, and more are expected to be distributed very soon.
The Agency has also convened a Roundtable with the National Emergency Forum to discuss bringing medical volunteers from overseas, including doctors and paramedical professionals.
At the same time, the Agency is preparing an evacuation plan for communities in the north should that become necessary.
The 1,480 olim who have been evacuated from Jewish Agency absorption centers in the South to safer locations elsewhere in Israel will remain on respite until at least Monday.
The Agency is also working on finding alternate flights for Olim that were scheduled to arrive and have had their flights cancelled. All new Olim are being given an information kit to help them on arrival.
Masa participants are participating in volunteer activities, including assembling food packages, helping with babysitting, conducting deliveries, and more.
All participants in the Agency’s Haredi Mechina Program in Moshav Ora returned to their program yesterday, and some other Mechinot will resume by the end of the week.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

Some of JDC's response to the current situation in recent days included the following:

A first group of 170 families at risk in the south of Israel were approved to receive vouchers for food, household items, toys and medicines. This assistance is aimed at helping recipients who were struggling financially before the crisis, make emergency purchases such as water, toys, and other supplies for shelters and safe rooms.
JDC professionals visited centers throughout Israel, housing Holocaust survivors from the communities bordering the Gaza Strip, who were evacuated after the tragic attacks. JDC staff met with elderly Holocaust survivors to assess their needs and determine responses.
Youth studying at a vocational school supported by JDC volunteered to use their skills to support survivors in the south of Israel. Students studying in the carpentry track created locks for safe spaces in apartments, to enhance their protection, and students studying in the culinary track prepared hot meals for families in the South.
JDC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, converted a JDC-initiated employment center in the Haredi city of Bnei Brak into a volunteer hub. So far 500 Haredi volunteers have signed up and are staffing call centers, visiting elderly, and supporting vital community services. JDC aims to replicate this model in other JDC-initiated employment centers throughout Israel.
The JDC cafeteria in Jerusalem has been repurposed to support the major relief efforts taking place in Israel. Professionals in our Israel office are volunteering their time to make food for forensic police officers working around the clock to identify the bodies of civilians and soldiers who fell victim to the recent terrible attack.

The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) is providing daily in-depth and inside analysis, sponsored by Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency. A rotating team of top analysts of Israeli military affairs, the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s political system and the country’s diverse society, will speak Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 - 11:30a.m. EDT by Zoom. Join here.

For those looking for opportunities to volunteer and assist Israel, please see this guide, prepared by Jewish Federations.

Jewish Federations issued a statement on the current fighting.

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.