Dear Friends, 

We are horrified with the news continuing to come out of Israel and from our sister region, Sha’ar HaNegev. We have put together the following statement in response to the events that are unfolding in Israel. We are in communication with our partners in Sha’ar HaNegev and continue to think of our friends there.  

We have opened a support fund to send immediate relief to our friends in Sha’ar HaNegev. 100% of donations will be sent to support the vast needs of the community there.  

What we know:  
Early in the morning on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, Israel suffered an unprecedented attack by terrorists who infiltrated from Gaza. They attacked civilians on the streets and in people’s homes, and they have taken hostages back to Gaza. Thousands of rockets have been fired into Southern and Central Israel. At the time of writing, more than 1,600 people are injured, and over 300 have been killed. Those numbers are likely to rise. 
 
You can find live updates in English here and here. 
  
Vigil for Israel 
Join the community to show our support for Israel and solidarity on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center | JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS.  

What you can do 

1. Jewish Federation of San Diego has opened a fund to support Israel. Please donate here: jewishinsandiego.org/israelemergencyfund
2. Tell your elected officials and representatives to support Israel: https://jfeds.org/OperationSwordsofIronActionAlert 
3. Join our webinar on Sunday, October 8 at 9 a.m. for further updates.  Register at https://jfeds.org/IsraelUpdateWebinar.  

Remembering Ofir Libstein z’’l 
We were beyond devastated to learn of the death of Mayor Ofir Libstein, who was killed in a firefight this morning. Ofir was an outstanding friend to San Diego. He visited us many times, becoming a member of our Federation family. He recently hosted more than 200 of us on our CommUNITY Trip to Israel and made every single person there feel special and welcome. He cared deeply about the relationship between San Diego and Sha’ar HaNegev, and he had countless ideas for strengthening the region and deepening our partnership. 
 
Leave a message in honor of Ofir here.  

Jewish Federations are responding, working with our core partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the immense levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.  

• Jewish Federations’ abiding support through our annual campaigns make it possible for our primary partners The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and World ORT to respond immediately when emergencies like this take place. 
• The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT) is often the first non-medical responder for families and individuals who have been impacted by acts of terror and violence, providing immediate grants to rebuild homes damaged by rocket fire, and providing for long-term rehabilitation and post-trauma care.  They are already estimating the need for significant additional funding given the scope of the crisis. 
• The Jewish Agency is part of the government's emergency roundtable and is ensuring the safety of thousands of Olim in dozens of absorption centers, caring for the thousands of residents in Amigour senior housing, and is in touch with the thousands of Masa participants, and participants in the Agency’s pre-army academies and youth villages. 
• The Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) is working closely with the IDF’s Home Front Command and local authorities to help address immediate needs and will be sharing a situational assessment shortly.  

Additional Background and Resources 

• Hamas: Hamas is an Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip and openly seeks the destruction of Israel. Since 2005, Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza have launched over 20,000 rockets and mortars at Israel, carried out more than one hundred suicide bombings, and dug dozens of terror tunnels into Israeli communities—all at the expense of the people of Gaza.
  • Why Does Hamas Fire Rockets into Israel? 
  • Hamas’s Control Over Gaza
  • AIPAC Briefing 1-pager on Hamas
• Iran as largest state sponsor of terror: Iran views Hamas as a proxy and uses the terrorist organization to pursue its ultimate goal of destroying Israel. Iran and Hamas work together to prevent Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. In recent years, Tehran has contributed upwards of $70 million per year in financial and military support to Hamas. 
   

Heidi Gantwerk and David Bark

Jewish Federation of San Diego