Information About Israel

Resilience & Hope: Follow Rabbi Nemitoff’s 2-week journey with the CCAR in Israel on his daily blog

At the end of January, Rabbi Nemitoff, along with 29 other rabbis from North America, will be traveling to Israel in order to demonstrate their support. Their goal is to listen to stories, and to offer their hands and hearts in support of Israelis. They will meet with former hostages, families of current hostages, Palestinians from both the West Bank and Gaza, and members of the Knesset. They will celebrate Shabbat in Jerusalem with Israeli Reform Jews, study together about the nature of war in our tradition, and attempt to better understand the mood and thinking of Israelis, on both the left and the right. Rabbi Nemitoff will be blogging daily so we at TBT can “accompany” him on this journey of hope and solidarity organized by the CCAR. 

Click here to access his daily Israel blog.  You can also subscribe to receive daily updates by clicking the 'Subscribe' button located at the bottom right of the blog webpage. 

Feature Article: Rabbi Nemitoff reflects on the Israel-Hamas War. Click here.

Feature Video: Recently, Rabbi Nemitoff sat down with Reverend Adam Hamilton and Dr. Majdi Hamarshi, Palestinian ICU doctor in Kansas City and chair of the Palestinian American Medical Association, to talk about Palestine and Israel. Watch the full video by clicking the button below.  Click here.

A Call to Action 

"Our communal hearts have been broken for the suffering and terror that is still unfolding across our spiritual homeland. As we learned from Rabbi Nemitoff’s sermon on Yom Kippur, it does no good for our hearts to be crushed under this grief. Instead, we must allow them to be broken open: Open to standing in solidarity with Israel. Open to doing what we can to meet the great immediate needs of the Israeli and Palestinian victims of this unimaginable brutality. Open to rededicating ourselves to hoping, praying, and working for peace in our time. Our Rabbis offered their leadership with a powerful joint statement in solidarity with Israel and its citizens. It is now up to us to answer their call to raise our voices with them and to use our broken open hearts as vessels to repair what we are able to. In the coming days and weeks, Israel and all the people affected by this horrible cycle of violence are going to need practical and spiritual support from us all." 

- Rachel Chao, Chair of the Social Action Committee

Resource List from Our Rabbis

View the resource list here

Educational Resources

Read this newspaper article about the slogan 'From the River to the Sea'

View information from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle

Responding to allegations regarding Israel (ADL)

10 ways to have conscientious conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (ADL)

Letter to a friend by Naomi Greenspan

How Gaza became Israel's unsolvable problem (Mosaic article)

How to Support Israel

Explore resources from the Union for Reform Judaism

Seattle Israel Emergency Fund (Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle)

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has launched a local campaign that brings our community together to raise donations for the Israel Emergency Fund. As part of the JFNA collective, your Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is proud to have set a goal for our community of $4 million to meet emergency needs and for long-term rebuilding and rehabilitation. 

Donate to the JFNA Emergency Fund

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has opened an emergency fund, working with their core partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.

Donate to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is a global humanitarian organization dedicated to protecting vulnerable Jews. In the south of Israel, they have existing operations and programs providing support to those in the line of fire, including elderly, people with disabilities, children and families at risk, and other vulnerable populations adversely impacted in past conflicts. In response to the current crisis, they have activated their emergency response team and protocols across Israel, and are conducting ongoing assessments of emerging needs and deploying interventions to address them.

Donate to the Jewish Agency for Israel

The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror is a first responder when terror strikes, providing immediate assistance to terror victims, arriving with checks within 24-48 hours of an attack, and following up with long-term rehabilitative support. The aid they provide is critical for victims’ immediate well being and long term capability to recover.

Donate to the Israel Trauma Coalition

The ITC provides a holistic-collaborative approach that includes knowledge, tools, and resources for optimal emergency preparedness and real time support for emergency teams. Since Saturday, they have been providing a variety of trauma services to families of victims seeking to identify loved ones and plan funeral services, young families who have had a parent unexpectedly called up from the military reserves, and first responders who are suffering severe emotional distress.

Wear a Blue Ribbon

Consider making a Blue Ribbon (“a global unity symbol in solidarity with hostages and their families") and wearing it wherever you go. 

Hear from Leaders in the Reform Movement

• The world-wide reform movement convened in solidarity with Israel on Tuesday 10/10. Watch the recording of the briefing presented by the URJ, IMPJ, IRAC, ARZA, Arzenu, and WUPJ.
• Read this offering from Rabbi Nemitoff on how we can make it through together.
• On Tuesday, October 10, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, JCRC, and Temple De Hirsch Sinai held a vigil for Israel.  You can watch the recording here. 

Resources for Parents

During this heartbreaking time, you may be wondering how to talk about the devastating events in Israel with your children. We have included below a selection of resources for parents, guardians, and families:

• Jewish Resources for Coping with Acts of Terror and Violence
• How to Talk to Kids About What’s Happening in Israel Right Now
• How to Talk to Children About Israel: Webinar Recording
• Explore PJ Library Resources
• Tough Questions on Israel Answered
• A Brief History of Antisemitism From the ADL
• How to Talk to Children About the Violence in Israel And Gaza

• Looking for more? Parent Map has gathered a wealth of resources to explore...