Supporting Our Northern Communities During the High Holidays

As we approach the High Holidays, Jews worldwide celebrate this time with renewal and introspection. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are holy days in which we recognize the path we’ve taken over the past year, atone for our sins, and come together to pray for the year to come. This year, as we celebrate the High Holidays, many of our brothers and sisters in the north have been facing ongoing challenges and our efforts to collect and provide tzedakah are more important than ever.

Urgent Support is Needed

Currently, the northern regions of Israel are under attack, enduring daily missile threats and the impending threat of escalated conflict. There is an urgent need for support as thousands of families have become displaced, many of them in urgent need of basic necessities, such as food, water, housing essentials, and clothing. Yad Ezra V’Shulamit has been increasing efforts to provide for these families during these holy days, intending to distribute over 62,000 food baskets for Rosh Hashana, a dramatic increase from previous years.

Support Request from Home Front Command

Additionally, due to the ongoing escalation in the north, the Home Front Command has reached out to us for urgent support. They have requested the use of our 15 trucks to assist in transportation and logistics during this critical time, and the use of our warehouses to store and manage supplies for the affected communities. They have also asked us to take on the responsibility for feeding 1,000 evacuee families, out of the 16,000 families that they plan to evacuate soon.

This request is part of the broader effort to assist the displaced families, and we are preparing to meet this challenge with our resources and dedication.

The Power of Tzedakah

The High Holidays are a time when acts of charity and generosity are believed to have a powerful effect on our Divine judgment for the upcoming year. Traditional Jewish teaching speaks about tzedakah, or charity, can have an impact. Our generous contributions hold a special place and create a special protective shield of mercy for ourselves and our loved ones. It is the reciprocal nature of the world - when we support those in need, we invite divine compassion and care upon ourselves.

During Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we pray to be inscribed in the Book of Life. Our acts of charity and kindness help us on our journey, as we seek this inscription. Yom Kippur teaches us about forgiveness and atonement and invites us to extend help to one another.

How You Can Help

This holiday season, as we reflect on our lives and daven for a year of peace and health, let’s come together to make sure that those in vulnerable situations are not forgotten. Yad Ezra V’Shulamit is committed to offering food and the basic essentials to those in need, but we also strive to provide a sense of normalcy to families in the north whose lives were torn apart due to the ongoing war. Your support can make a significant difference in their lives.

We ask you to stand with us and with Israel during this challenging time. Your donation establishes the values of life that these High Holidays so powerfully remind us of.

Together, we can make sure that this New Year starts with hope, connection, and support for all.