Some 350 community members gathered at Beth Hillel Congregation Bnai Emunah in Wilmette on Sept. 7 to stand in solidarity with Israel through music and by supporting JUF’s Israel Emergency Campaign.

Wondering what he could do to support Israelis during the conflict with Hamas, BHCBE Cantor Pavel Roytman reached out to some of his colleagues and arranged a free concert-fundraiser entitled “Kol Israel Arevim Ze Ba Ze: All Jews are Responsible for One Another.”

Joining Roytman were Cantors Steve Stoehr from Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, Vicky Glikin from Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Andrea Rae Markowicz from Am Shalom in Glencoe and the Kol Zimrah Community Singers, conducted by Richard Boldrey.

The performance raised over $14,000 to the JUF Israel Emergency Campaign and demonstrated the impact that just a few people can have when it comes to building community and supporting Israel.

In addition to this event, 16 other congregations quickly organized IEC events during the recent Israel/Hamas war, attracting over 1,000 community members. To learn more about the Israel Emergency Campaign, or to donate, please visit http://www.juf.org/israelemergency/.