While the Israel Defense Forces and other Israeli security agencies try to stop the Hamas/Palestinian Arab 2,500 rocket attacks that are pounding Israeli cities and other communities, rioting, fires and other violence, and incitement against Jews—and civil defense agencies make sure that shelters are open and ready—there are steps that we in the Diaspora can take to help.
What Can Each of Us Do:
- Advocacy (see details below).
- Contact friends and family in Israel – let them know you are thinking about them and praying for their well-being. Try to reassure them.
- Buy goods from Israel via Israeli websites (see examples below) and at local stores. A surge in economic support will boost morale as well as the economy. Due to the rockets and violence, businesses may need to close. Schools in the south are closed for now. Reservists may be called to duty which will take some Israelis out of the workforce.
- Pray both for the well-being of Israel and for the success and safety of the IDF. Urge rabbis and other clergy to disseminate these prayers electronically—prayer helps! Also ask them to send out to the community ACCURATE news about what is happening since many people rely on anti-Israel media and thus are uninformed—and worse, believe that Israel is at fault.
- Support ZOA. See ZOA.ORG
- Fly an Israeli flag from your home and/or car. Wear an Israeli flag pin on your lapel, jacket, or shirt, blouse or cap. Show your solidarity and let others see it.
- Share this ACTION ALERT with your email lists and post the Action items on social media.
Buy Items From Israel on Israeli Websites:
Some examples:
https://www.israeliproducts.com/home
http://www.buyisraelgoods.org/
https://market.marmelada.co.il/
https://www.makoletonline.com/
https://www.israelisupermarketonline.com/
https://israeldefensestore.com/
https://ahuva.com/pages/about-us-judaica-store
Advocacy Suggestions:
- Press the White House to let Israel do whatever it deems necessary to stop the violence against her people and to dismantle the terrorist groups including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Also: Iran supports most of those organizations. Tell the White House that this is NOT the time to relax or end sanctions against Iran. Call the White House at: 202-456-1414. The White House comment line (202-456-1111) has been disabled. Send an email message here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ Also see the White House on Facebook and on Twitter.
- Contact your representatives (202-224-3121) and ask for your Senator or representative) in Washington and ask them to issue statements in support of Israel and Israel’s right to defend herself. Ask that they put a hold on any monies targeted for the Palestinian Arabs that have not yet been disbursed. Ask them to condemn fellow lawmakers who have made anti-Israel statements or social media posts.
- Monitor all local media, respond to false reporting that blame Israel for starting the violence, or that play up Arab casualties vs. Israeli casualties. It is important to remind people in the media that the Arabs deliberately target Jewish civilians with their rockets and incendiary devices – and that they use their own people as human shields to increase the number of their casualties for public relations purposes. Meanwhile, Israel takes steps that no other military in the world would to prevent or minimize civilian casualties. These last points could be the subject of a letter to the editor, web comment, or blog comment. Thus: Be reactive and pro-active. Use social media liberally to inform others who may be misinformed by the mainstream media. Stay up-to-date on the news and developments – make sure your sources of information are accurate and reliable.
Prayers:
Prayer for the Israel Defense Forces:
“He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.
May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.
Analysis and Background:
https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/05/11/understanding-the-sheikh-jarrah-property-dispute/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/05/11/hamas-is-undermining-israels-sovereignty-in-jerusalem/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/05/11/the-palestinian-leaders-al-aqsa-hoax-strikes-again/