How You Can Support Israel During This Time of Great Tragedy and Mourning

As we follow the developing news in Israel, we urge you to keep up to date on what we are doing and ways you can help:

• Watch Rabbi Rick Jacobs’s October 14 MSNBC appearance, in which he condemns Hamas’s attack on Israel, encourages continued U.S. support for Israel, and articulates the moral imperative to protect Jewish and Palestinian civilians by eliminating Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure.

• Read and watch Rabbi Rick Jacobs’ Shabbat Message of Compassion and Strength
• There have seen a number of deeply troubling posts on social media that are antisemitic, anti-Israel, and/or contain misinformation or disinformation. This guide can help you respond to these posts online.
• Toolkit for Clergy: Prayers, readings, recordings and resources you can consider incorporating into your congregation’s services.
• View the statement from Reform leaders responding to Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel.

• Watch the recording of our Movement-wide “Standing in Solidarity with Israel” webinar recorded on October 9, during which we received updates from our southern Israel communities and shared in a moment of communal mourning.

• Journalist Amir Tibon’s personal story – Diplomatic correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Amir Tibon shares his powerful personal story of survival and rescue.

• Watch URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs’s appearance on Fox, where he spoke on the brutal attacks’ impact on Israel and America.
• View the recording of Our Hearts are in the East, a webinar produced by Sing Unto God on October 9 featuring music, poetry, and prayer with Reform musicians, clergy, and friends.
• Take steps to ensure the safety of your community by following these tips from Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America, and the URJ.
• Provide materials to support caregivers in your congregation. The URJ has compiled a toolkit with resources to help parents talk with their children about the current situation in Israel in an authentic, age-appropriate manner.
• Donate to the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) Operation: Swords of Iron campaign. JFNA is working with the URJ and our partners to support victims of terror, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by these horrific attacks.
• Join the URJ and RAC in urging President Biden and Congress to continue standing with Israel, leading other nations to do the same.

Given the events in Israel and with appropriate concern for the safety of our students, Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) – our partner in administering the Heller High program on their campus – has made the difficult decision to conclude the entire semester program in Israel and send the students home. As painful as the decision is, we have full faith in AMHSI’s experience and decision-making and fully support the decision. Despite this disappointing outcome – for our students first and foremost, but also for all of us in the Reform Movement – our commitment to transformative immersive experiences in Israel is as strong as ever. Seeing the maturity, thoughtfulness, and care that our Heller High students have shown for their community in Israel is a clear indication of the power of these experiences and the greatest demonstration yet that they are the future leaders of our Jewish community.

This page will continue to be updated with more information and opportunities for you to support Israel as they become available.