A weekend in Israel - Seeing our charity in action

Friends and Family,

As I sit on the flight back to California from Israel, I am feeling deeply inspired. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in one of our trips for the first time. Ami and I took 17 teens from Kibbutz Magen rappelling, hiking, and swimming, and it feels like our vision is beginning to become a reality.  The participants had fun, relished nature, spent hours away from their phones and played like kids again. In other words, it was a light moment to build connections. I've included some photos from our trip. 

The post Oct 7th optimism I saw in November of hostage returns and societal unity has given way to the realities of war.  People are tired of being displaced, the economy feels vulnerable, and there's little hope the end of fighting is near.  However, as I talked to Israelis, what I found was a revived connection with diaspora. When I told folks that we were funding the trips via the generosity of diaspora Jews and allies, the response, universally was, "thank G-d for our brothers and sisters in America.  Everything around us right now is funded by them". We are part of a movement that's making life in Israel, amidst this war, bearable. 

For the last 50+ years, it's been Israelis that're doing nearly all the work to protect the Jewish people, and while Israelis continue to make massive sacrifices on our behalf (leaving their families to fight, moving homes to be away from the borders, etc), it's no longer solely on the shoulders of our families there. Instead, we are stepping up.. Our contributions, both financially and emotionally, are lifting up those on the front lines.  I am proud to be connected to and supported by you all.  

In the coming week, Ami and I will send a letter sharing our vision and newly renamed charity with our website.  This website will catalog our trips and progress as well as a regular newsletter to keep you updated. 

Stay tuned and thank you again.

Am Yisrael Chai,

Dave