On the Ground In Israel

Jewish National Fund-USA did the important work and had the strategic vision to help the land and the people of Israel long before October 7. Jewish National Fund-USA is there now helping Israel stay strong, supported, and resilient. And Jewish National Fund-USA will be there long after this is over. It’s because of long-standing relationships and mutual trust that Jewish National Fund-USA can provide what Israel needs most right now. Here are three examples of how Jewish National Fund-USA and its affiliates “boots on the ground” staff and volunteers have been able to pivot in the last few months to implement its Emergency Resilience Campaign.

MAKOM
MAKOM is a network of local volunteers in different communities who work to provide a wide range of services depending on the specific needs of each community. They know how to operate in an emergency by coming together and acting quickly and efficiently.

October 7 took that to a whole different level. They now help care for, bring joy and provide support to new populations - not just within their own communities, but wherever the displaced and the evacuees are. Among many other things, MAKOM provides after school activities for the kids, help with the laundry and they host Shabbat dinners. They’ve even found ways to give the displaced and evacuees a way to do volunteer work - making them feel useful and involved. When MAKOM volunteers noticed that some of the displaced seniors from Sderot (temporarily being housed in hotels at the Dead Sea) needed a purpose, MAKOM put them to work packaging kits for the soldiers! The seniors prepared over 5,000 kits and sent along personal messages of love and support. MAKOM knows how powerful helping people, and helping people help people is. Says Michelle Horesh, National Co-Chair of the Jewish National Fund-USA MAKOM Task Force, “They know how to look after their people: mothers and children, the elderly, families... putting smiles on faces in the midst of all this trauma.”

Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center
Before October 7, the Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center provided equine therapy to adults and children with special needs from the Arava to Eilat. Temporarily, children with special needs are not able to attend the riding center for therapy because of the difficulty of providing security - mainly getting them into bomb shelters quickly. “Their safety comes first,” says Laurie Landy, National Chair of the Red Mountain Committee of Jewish National Fund-USA's Disabilities Task Force. She explained, “Equine therapy moves every joint, every muscle as if walking. There is also a transference of synchronistic energy from the horse to the rider that has lasting physical, emotional and psychological effects.”

Since October 7, Red Mountain’s focus has shifted to serving those with physical and emotional trauma, including PTSD, caused by the brutal attacks, evacuations, and the ongoing war. Some people come from as far away as Tel Aviv because as Landy explains, "When you are on top of a horse, it makes you feel alive. This helps you breathe and relax. Your nervous system is stimulated and awakened.” Maybe the words of this recent evacuee summed it up best with a giggle from the top of a horse, “I haven’t laughed for months. Until now.”

Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) 
Nefesh B’Nefesh was originally established as a premier agency helping those who make aliyah from all over the world be successful in their new lives in Israel. Since October 7, in addition to their normal operations, the organization has focused on bringing medical professionals to Israel and providing services to lone soldiers and their families. They smooth out the aliyah process for physicians and have helped the wave of physician volunteers facilitate their 1 week, 2 weeks, and month-long stays. They are currently focused on recruiting emergency medicine professionals, anesthesiologists, orthopedic specialists, cardiologists, and physicians trained to treat survivors. 

Recently, Jewish National Fund-USA funded a new NBN lone soldier program. “They work tirelessly to operationalize Operation Hug to bring over 1000 parents to Israel to connect with and give support to their sons and daughters serving as lone soldiers,” said Rose Barlow, volunteer JNF Co-Chair Nefesh B’Nefesh Task Force. It is a huge morale booster for the soldiers and the families who may feel alone and unsupported. 

During these difficult times, NBN continues to go the extra mile. When a lone soldier is fallen or injured, Nefesh staffers have taken it on themselves to support them and their families. The Nefesh B’Nefesh campus in Jerusalem has become a meeting space for evacuees. It also embraces life affirming celebrations as well and is available to any lone soldier or evacuee for weddings. At this point, they’ve had 10 weddings!  

JNF-USA continues to find ways to support life and build for the future for the land and people of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai. Donate to help Jewish National Fund-USA’s Emergency Resilience Plan to provide important services to communities in the Israel Envelope.

Written by Jackie Goldstein, Chair of Women for Israel, Atlanta