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ThisIsrael Under Siege - What You Can Do
July 27, 2006
The safety and security of our brethren in all regions of the Land of Israel are in peril as they face incessant attacks from their terrorist neighbors. Israel’s defense forces are doing all they can to protect its citizens and free its captured soldiers as soon as possible. But we know that current events affect the lives of all klal Yisrael, all the people of Israel, and mandate a response from each and every Jew.
It is imperative that we in the American Jewish community do our utmost to show our strong support and solidarity with our besieged brethren in Israel.
Below are seven suggestions of what you and your congregation can do today in this time of pain. Please share this with your synagogue's leadership and members.
- A sincere spiritual response from each and every Jew
- Prayers for the Hostages, Soldiers and Civilians (IDF Tefillah Cards and Pray for One campaigns)
- Thank President Bush for his steadfast support
- Contact your elected officials
- Organize and attend rallies in your community
- Contact your local media outlets
- Counter media bias
- Donate to the UJC Israel Emergency Campaign
- Support Magen David Adom
1. A sincere spiritual response from each and every Jew
We strongly urge that each Jew add time for Torah study to his or her daily routine, give more tzedaka, and do more acts of chesed, particularly bein adam l’chaveiro – to one’s family, neighbors and friends.
Note: The OU, YU, RCA, NCYI and others are organizing a round-the-clock learn-a-thon for Israel. 9 days. 24 hours. 184 opportunities for you to help Israel. Register a group now!
http://www.ou.org/index.php/nine_days/
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Prayers for the Hostages, Soldiers and Civilians
We further urge that each community gather at its synagogue, community center, or Israeli consulate to pray for the safe return of our soldiers and the safety of the people of Israel and invite local Israeli officials to address those assembled. The Israeli Chief Rabbinate recommends all Jews of good will to recite Tehilim (Psalms) 70, 13, 142 and 126 in addition to the attached prayer for the hostages (pdf). We have made available an English translation of the prayer as well.
Call to Tefilah from Chief Rabbi Metzger
Prayer for the captive prisoners from Rav Metzger
Listen to Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael, as sung by Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt (compliments of Cantor World)
We also encourage each individual and synagogue to recite each day the prayer for the Israeli Defense Forces .
Join the campaign! Purchase Tefillah L'chayalei Tzahal - The Prayer for Members of the Israeli Defense Forces cards for your home and synagogue and take advantage of a double opportunity to help our soldiers.
Pray for one person
A new initiative by Rav Simcha Kook, Rav of Rechovot, and the Bostoner Rebbe, calls for people to take upon themselves to pray for one specific soldier or resident of the North. Every participant in the program will be given the Hebrew name of someone in danger in Israel to pray for. This initiative has been endorsed by gedolim in Eretz Yisrael.
The Medrash Rabah and the Yalkut relate that during the war against Midyon, for every one that went out to battle there was a designated person whose task it was to pray and learn for him. Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita, when asked about this tradition, pointed out that Dovid Hemelech instituted this practice as well.
Anyone that wishes to participate should email maortlmo@bezeqint.net or fax 011 9722 6512950, or submit requests to the Young Israel at 212-929-1525 ext 100/101 or fax 212-727-9526 and the name of someone to daven for will be sent to you shortly thereafter.
A new initiative by Rav Simcha Kook, Rav of Rechovot, and the Bostoner Rebbe, calls for people to take upon themselves to pray for one specific soldier or resident of the North. Every participant in the program will be given the Hebrew name of someone in danger in Israel to pray for. This initiative has been endorsed by gedolim in Eretz Yisrael.
The Medrash Rabah and the Yalkut relate that during the war against Midyon, for every one that went out to battle there was a designated person whose task it was to pray and learn for him. Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita, when asked about this tradition, pointed out that Dovid Hemelech instituted this practice as well.
Anyone that wishes to participate should email maortlmo@bezeqint.net or fax 011 9722 6512950, or submit requests to the Young Israel at 212-929-1525 ext 100/101 or fax 212-727-9526 and the name of someone to daven for will be sent to you shortly thereafter.
Yasher Koach to all the synagogues and individuals across North America who joined together to pray and learn on Wednesday July 19, 9pm EDT in a moving show of support.
Names of Soldiers Taken Hostage:
Gilad Shalit (Gilad ben Aviva)
Ehud Goldwasser (Ehud ben Malka)
Eldad Regev (Eldad ben Tovah)
Children Critically Injured in Safed Bombing:
Michal bat Revital
Bat-tzion bat Revital
Avraham Natan ben Revital
Odel Hannah bat Revital
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2. Thank President Bush for his steadfast support
Write "thank you" letters to President Bush for reaffirming Israel's "right to defend herself" and for instructing Ambassador Bolton to veto Arab-sponsored anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations. You may call the White House at (202) 456-1111, fax letters to (202) 456-2461, email to President@WhiteHouse.gov, or write letters to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. 20500.
Sample letter written by the Orthodox Union to President Bush (Word document)
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3. Contact your elected officials
Contact your congressmen and senators, thanking those who have already expressed their support for Israel and urging those who have not, to publicly support Israel's defensive actions, to support toughening of sanctions on Syria and legislation denying Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations American aid.
We join with the Rabbinical Council of America and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations in recommending a mass email campaign to Washington and Israel. Show our brothers and sisters in Israel that we stand with them in this hour of peril, while also sending a message to Washington and the UN that Israel’s actions of self defense are fully justified. It will take practically none of your time and it will cost you nothing. All you need to do is send an email to WeStandWithIsrael@rabbis.org and it will be immediately and automatically be forwarded, with thousands of others, to PM Olmert, Tzahal, The White House, The State Department, and the United Nations. Your message can be as short or as long as you choose, and it will surely make a difference.
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4. Organize and attend rallies in your community
Organize a rally in your city or neighborhood and invite local Israeli and elected officials and all friends of Israel to join in a public display of support and solidarity. Such events positively affect public leaders and opinion makers, as well as the community at large. Most importantly, the rally will help engender unity, pride and a sense of involvement within the Jewish and pro-Israel community at this critical juncture. Be sure to invite your local media (print and radio/tv) to this event.
5. Contact your local media outlets
Write a 100-word, or less, letter to the editor of your local newspaper and call your local radio stations to be an unofficial ambassador for Israel by explaining the facts. You never know how your contribution may affect someone else's views. We gain no support by remaining silent, so speak up!
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6. Counter media bias
When you discover a piece of bias in local or national media (newspapers, television, radio) immediately contact the media outlet or news agency and voice your opposition. Keep your remarks respectful and stick to the facts. No Jewish organization or Israeli consulate can sufficiently fight the propaganda war on every front; they need your help. Build a list of e-mail addresses of friends and colleagues so that when you discover bias, you can alert others to also file a complaint. There is power in the number of responses, even if your specific letter is not printed or quoted. You can join a media watch email list at HonestReporting.com which gives guidelines for how to be effective in contacting the media, and has over 25,000 subscribers protesting biased news against Israel.
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For a listing of the many organizations supporting Israel, and how you can help, visit the Support Israel Flag on Jerusalem Online.
7. Support Magen David Adom
Support Magen David Adom. In response to the Hizbullah offensive in northern Israel, which has rained dozens of Katyusha rockets on Haifa, Tzfat, Kiryat Shemona and other locales since Wednesday July 12, Magen David Adom is on high alert throughout the country. MDA races across the country to treat the wounded and transport casualties to the hospital. MDA is in need of additional resources for things like medical supplies and ambulances. Have your synagogue start a campaign to raise funds and help heal our brethren. More information is available at http://www.magendavidadom.org. Jewish lives depend on it.
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Thank you for your involvement and support.
Please send us a report (email mbleicher@ou.org) on whatever steps you may take, which will help guide us in the best way to be effective in such circumstances.
May G-d have mercy on His people and His nation in this time of pain.