Our hearts are with the people of Israel

Dear Community member:

• JUF is immediately advancing $5.5 million to our partners – JAFI and JDC – who are already providing emergency assistance to victims in Israel.

• We also have opened an Israel Emergency Fund to funnel critical support from our community to the Israeli people.

• JUF will host a community-wide Israel Solidarity Gathering on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. at NSCI, 1185 Sheridan Road in Glencoe. Register here .

JUF leadership has been interviewed on multiple major media outlets expressing our total solidarity with Israel at this pivotal time and is in communication with elected officials and interfaith allies. In addition, JUF’s security team is working hand-in hand with Jewish institutions across our community to safeguard their facilities at this time of potentially heightened risk.

Hamas has declared that the operation is in retaliation for the “desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque,” referring to Jews being allowed to visit Temple Mount for Sukkot. In addition to launching widespread rocket fire far into north and central Israel, Hamas has made unprecedented incursions into Israeli border communities. Terrorists continue to hold hostages in several locations and the IDF has not yet regained control in all the communities on the Gaza border. The IDF has confirmed 900 dead and thousands more injured, and we grieve those who have been murdered and pray for the recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared Israel at war and launched “Operation Swords of Iron” to defend it. The IDF is currently operating in the Gaza Strip from the air, bombing Hamas targets and has called up four reserve brigades, which include thousands of reservists. Some units have already been deployed in the north, while most of the units are deployed around Gaza. Special forces are surrounding the areas where terrorists are still operating inside Israel and fighting them.

U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized that the U.S. stands alongside Israel and fully supports Israel’s right to self-defense.

We will keep you posted. In the meantime, our hearts are with the people of Israel.