As missiles fly toward Israel from Iran and its proxies, the instinctive reaction of many Jews around the world is the same: we reach for one another.
We call family in Israel. We text friends. We scroll the news, hoping for updates that bring relief rather than dread.
And we are reminded of something both ancient and powerful - when Israel is under attack, the Jewish people do not scatter. We gather.
Across continents and time zones, the threats facing Israel have a way of cutting through the noise of everyday life. Political differences fade. Personal disagreements shrink. What remains is something deeper — a shared sense of peoplehood and responsibility.
Israel has always had that effect. In moments of crisis, no one sees Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox Jew. Left and Right, religious and secular. It doesn’t matter because Israel becomes the great uniter.
But unity cannot live only in headlines and hashtags. It has to live in our homes, around our tables, and in the traditions that have sustained the Jewish people for thousands of years.
That is where Shabbat comes in.
For centuries, the Jewish people have welcomed Shabbat as a pause from the chaos of the week — a sacred moment to reconnect with family, friends, and faith. Lighting candles, blessing wine, and sharing a meal together is not simply ritual; it is a reaffirmation of who we are and what binds us together.
This year, that connection carries even greater meaning.
On April 24, Shabbat for Israel, organized by Jewish National Fund-USA, invites Jews across the country to open their homes and synagogues for a special Friday night dinner celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Some dinners will be intimate gatherings of close friends. Others will bring together neighbors, colleagues, and members of the broader community.
The details may vary, but the purpose is the same: to remind ourselves that we are part of something larger than our individual lives.
In a world that often feels increasingly fractured — where isolation is common and genuine connection can be hard to find — Shabbat offers something rare. It creates space to gather, reflect, and strengthen the bonds that make communities resilient.
And at a time when Israel is under direct attack from Iran, those bonds matter more than ever.
Supporting Israel is not only about diplomacy or military strength. It is also about the quiet, powerful acts of solidarity that happen far from the battlefield — families lighting candles, friends sharing challah, communities standing together, proud in who they are and what they believe.
These small moments carry enormous meaning. They remind Israelis that they are not alone. They remind Jews everywhere that the story of Israel is inseparable from our own.
Jewish National Fund-USA has long understood the power of connection — strengthening ties between the Diaspora and the people of Israel through initiatives that build community, inspire young leaders, and deepen Zionist engagement.
Shabbat for Israel is another expression of that mission.
But ultimately, the power of the evening does not come from an organization. It comes from individuals — from someone deciding to send a text, extend an invitation, and open their door.
We have all thought about doing it. Reaching out to an old friend. Inviting someone we haven’t seen in years. Bringing people together who might not otherwise share a table. Even hosting those we disagree with!
Too often we hesitate.
This year, we shouldn’t.
At a moment when Israel is facing threats from afar, gathering together becomes more than a social act. It becomes a statement — about who we are, what we value, and the unbreakable bond between Jews everywhere and the Jewish state.
Israel may be under attack. But the Jewish people remain united.
Sometimes that unity begins with something simple: lighting candles, breaking bread, and making room at the table.
Register for Shabbat for Israel at shabbatforisrael.jnf.org.
Alyssa Russo is a Co-Chair of Jewish National Fund-USA's Shabbat for Israel
