Nashville Stands With Israel

*Updated 10/10:

The goal of this campaign is to raise funds to provide essentials such as meals, safe temporary housing, clothing, and other critical supplies for the Jewish communities (Kibbutzim) in southern Israel. These communities include Nir Oz, Kfar Aza, Holit, and many others that have suffered unimaginable losses during the recent terror attacks in Israel.

Words cannot describe their pain and won’t bring back their loved ones. The little we can do is to try and provide some support and comfort during these unprecedented difficult times.

All donations will be going directly to people we know and vetted first-hand who are working on the ground in Israel on these efforts, more details provided below.

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Background:

On Saturday morning October 7th, we woke up to a new level of terror unlike anything Israel had ever experienced before. Around 6:00 am, under the cover of a massive missile barrage, Hamas terrorist infiltrated Israel by land, air, and sea. Attacking without mercy the families living in the communities of southern Israel and raiding a peaceful nearby music festival where thousands of young Israelis were celebrating during the Sukkot holiday.

As of this evening, October 10th, this terror attack has claimed the lives of at least 1,200 people, left over 2,500 injured, and an estimated 200 were taken captive, amongst them kids, women, and elderly people.

It is hard to imagine what these parents and kids went through when terrorists broke into their home early morning on a weekend.

Our current focus is to help support those who fled their homes, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and no homes to return to.

(Image of Kibbutz Nir Oz after the attack on Saturday)

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How can you make a difference?

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How will these funds make it to the hands of those in need?

My Husband (Chaim) and I (Nechama) moved from Israel to Nashville a little over 5 years ago. We have been in direct contact with people in Israel who are working to coordinate the support efforts on the ground.

One of the people that we have directly been in touch with is Zohar. She is part of a team of volunteers from MasterCard Israel who has helped provide verification documents to securely deposit funds to the communities bordering Gaza that have suffered tremendous losses. Many of them, no longer have homes to return to. The list of communities includes:

Nir Oz, Kfar Aza, Holit, Nirim, Reim, Beeri, Nachal Oz, and several others.

Here is a message Zohar shared with me:

My name is Zohar Delouya. Kibbuts Nir Oz is a kibbuts on the border of Gaza where my coworker lives. They went through horrors (I don't want to describe). Many kibbutz members are either confirmed dead or missing. The survivors have no possessions, due to the terrorists setting their houses on fire, and the army transferring them somewhere safe. They are in need of basic things. All proceeds will be directly transferred to the kibutz's bank account.

If you want to contact her directly to verify, you can reach out to me and I will put you in touch.

We’ve also been in touch with Yael, who is also helping coordinate support efforts for those evacuated with no homes to return to, here are her words:

My name is Yael from Sheizaf, a small community in the Negev. I am volunteering as a Pshycotherapist (15 years of experience) on a Kibbutz called Mashabei Sade. We have 250 families arriving from the Kibuttzim that were massacred on the Gaza strip. Families that have been torn apart by means of murder, cruel violence, and abduction of loved ones. They have left their houses with nothing but clothes on their back.The needs are endless- food and accommodation expenses, recreational equipment for kids, clothes, baby equipment , medication, and more. The situation of the people arriving is horrific. Their mental state is one of the worst that I have seen during my career. More and more families are arriving at extra locations here in the Negev-Nitzana, MIdreshet Ben Gurion, Ashalim, and more. I am happy to help connect you to people organizing the logistic side of the situation. May G-D give us all strength to keep on moving forward and helping those in need.

During times like these, it's vital for all of us in the #global community to come #together in solidarity. Let's stand united in #support of Israel, acknowledging the strength of its people and their unwavering hope for #peace and #security. When they spread hate – we spread love.

#StandwithIsrael