Israel News and Events 

Shaya Lerner from the ADL joined us via zoom at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford to discuss Antisemitism, Anti-Zioniim and what ADL is seeing in the world today. Click HERE to view the conversation.

The Israel Action committee is restarting TST’s “Israel Emergency Action Fund.” This will be an effort to help specific Israeli individuals and families who have very big and measurable needs due to the war. These individuals will come vetted to us from trusted sources in the congregation and in Israel. Every few weeks, the committee will present a different case and seek support from our temple members. This will be direct tzedakah, from TST to the person. This week’s family is the Golan Family. Read more about them in this letter from our clergy and the Israel Action Committee below.

We have been in contact with the Golan family who survived the attack in kibbutz Kfar Aza who lost virtually everything but their own lives. Ariel is a social worker while his wife, Ellay, is a physician. They have a baby daughter named Yael and parents who also lived on the kibbutz. As the terrorists entered Kfar Aza, the Golan family hid in their safe room hoping to avoid the attack. But their home was set on fire with a gas tank thrown into the safe room, causing severe burns to their bodies. Throughout the ordeal Elay continued to nurse Yael to keep her from crying and revealing their hiding place. After many hours, the Golan family was rescued by soldiers and transported to Sheba Hospital. Ellay was then placed in an induced coma for 58 days, while Ariel and Yael also spent time in an induced coma for the severe burns that covered their bodies. All three were eventually released to the rehabilitation department for their wounds. While they have lost everything they owned, they take solace in having their lives and each other – even as they each face great hardship and pain.

Let us help this worthy family face the challenges that they must now endure. We are asking each temple family to consider a one time contribution of $118 as a symbolic gesture of our congregation’s support for the people of Israel. All contributions will go directly to the Golan family and others who will be announced in the coming weeks and months. We ask that the contributions be made to TST Israel Emergency Fund, either by check sent to the Temple, or by simply clicking this link and filling out the form like the picture below.

Click HERE to Urge Congress to condemn rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas in its war against Israel

AIPAC encourages everyone to write to Congress and encourage them to support aid for Israel: https://p2a.co/u1KNyc6

"They are on the frontline, We have their back." 5,000 Bar-Ilan students have been called to the front lines to protect our country and our people. To read more about this project click HERE

Updated information on the situation in Israel is available at AJC.org/AttackOnIsrael

Where to Donate

See this note from Anat Katz, Economic Minister about how to support Israel (thanks to our Israel Action committee): Click Here to download

For those asking where they can donate and ensure the funds will be used properly, the UJA Federation of NY has set up an emergency fund to provide urgent support where it’s most needed. The link is: https://www.ujafedny.org/israel-emergency-fund/

Other nonprofits shared on by our congregants include:

Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon: https://www.bmc.gov.il/?CategoryID=511

Soroka Medical Center in the Negev: https://hospitals.clalit.co.il/soroka/en/Pages/default.aspx

Raising funds to get equipment to IDF soldiers https://my.jnf.org/israel-resilience-campaign/TeamPaz

Resources for college kids and parents:  https://www.ujafedny.org/israel-at-war-resources

For parents with children in Israel: https://www.shaaraytefila.org/?p=3176

If you'd like to get involved in our Israel Action Committee, please email IsraelAction@templest.org 

Past Events

100 Days Demonstration - Join UJA, ADL, AJC and many other organizations on Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza at 47th St. and 1st Avenue, this Friday, 1/12 at 9am to demand the release of the hostages. 

The 10/7 Project - from AJC, ADL, AIPAC, JFNA and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations,  is a communications hub advocating for accurate, unbiased coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. They are providing daily updates. 

"Seats of Hope" - Save a seat at your Thanksgiving Table for the Hostages. 

Join Rabbi Greenberg with Rabbi Fivel Glasser on Sunday, November 26th at 4pm via Zoom.  Having grown up in our congregation, Rabbi Glasser is now an Orthodox rabbi living in Efrat on Israel’s West Bank.  He will address the current situation, and some of the moral and strategic challenges facing Israel and the Jewish people. See the newsletter for a link.

Monday November 27th, on Rabbi Greenberg's Forum, via zoom, we will be joined by Jesse Tisch, a young man who grew up in our congregation.  He recently published an important and provocative article about his experiences and perceptions of the Israel demonstration that was held in Washington last week. See our newsletter for more details. 

Human Rights Day, Wednesday November 29th, 7-8pm. Click HERE for more information.

Recordings of Past Events

A recording of the Tuesday, October 24th, at 7:30pm  Zoom with Rabbi Greenberg and David Harris, former CEO of the AJC is on this page. Mr. Harris was CEO of AJC from 1990 to 2022, and an advocate for Jews around the world for many, many years.  Rabbi Greenberg will ask David about his "Thoughts and Feelings as a Jew in a Time of Crisis for the Jewish People."  

Tennis Tournament Fundraiser this Saturday 12/2, 6-10pm  Click HERE for more information