How You Can Support Israel During These Challenging Times

an image of an Israeli flag wrapped around a girl overlooking hills in Israel

We stand with the people of Israel during these difficult and challenging days and pray for the safety and immediate release of all of the hostages.

As we follow the developing news in Israel, we urge you to keep up to date on what we are doing and ways you can help:

Actions To Take Helpful Info Interviews Webinars Statements

Actions to Take

Urge UN Secretary General António Guterres to help secure the release of the hostages in Gaza by working with the international community.
Show support and solidarity with those in captivity. Download our toolkit for congregations and communities to Honor a Hostage.
Support the URJ's Israel and Reform Zionism work. Your gift enables us to provide invaluable resources and opportunities for mobilization to individuals, congregations, and communities across North America and ensures that we can expand our work to deepen the ties between North American Jews and Israel.
Donate to the Jewish Federations of North America's (JFNA) Operation: Swords of Iron campaign. JFNA is working with the URJ and our partners to support victims of terror, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by these horrific attacks. You can give through your local federation or directly to JFNA.
Wear your blue ribbon. Share a photo of your tribute or the below graphic on social media with the hashtags #ShineYourLight #BlueRibbonsforIsrael #BringThemHome. Visit our partner, Blue Ribbons for Israel, to download additional social media graphics and banners that feature the names and faces of the hostages, as well as printable postcards to distribute in your community or congregation.

Helpful Information

Is it Antisemitism? If It Is, Now What? Guidance for a Post-October 7th World
Staying Connected with Our Loved Ones, Even When We Disagree - Tips for navigating discussions with family members who have differing opinions.
Learn how to respond to social media posts that are antisemitic, anti-Israel, and/or contain misinformation or disinformation.
Toolkit for Clergy: Prayers, readings, recordings and resources you can consider incorporating into your congregation's services.
Take steps to ensure the safety of your community by following these tips from Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America, and the URJ.
The URJ has compiled resources to help parents talk with their children about the current situation in Israel in an authentic, age-appropriate manner.
Pray for the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces, the civilians held captive, and for peace. The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) has compiled a free booklet of prayers.

Interviews

Nov. 15: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview on Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. - explaining the importance of the March for Israel in the light of rising hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people.
Nov. 14: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview on KTTV News in Los Angeles - sharing impressions of the March for Israel rally in Washington, D.C. and the importance of bring together during this time.
Nov. 13: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview on LiveNow from Fox - discussing the upcoming March for Israel in Washington, D.C.
Nov. 4: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview on POTUS Politics - discussing rising antisemitism, his meeting with the families of those who were murdered and who were abducted, balancing Israel's right to defend itself with concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Hamas's tactics of using civilians as human shields, and admonished the United Nations for their unfair treatment of Israel.
Oct. 31: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview on Fox News - discussing the increase in antisemitic incidents, the connection between this trend and the conflict in Israel, and the increase in antisemitism on college campuses.
Oct 27: What Matters Now to Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Coalitions of faith and conscience (The Times of Israel)
Teens who returned home from the URJ Heller high program in Israel shared their stories with US media. Rebecca Katz spoke with Spectrum News, Gray TV and NBC Tyler. Lyla Caplan spoke with Fox Atlanta and Scripps News.
Oct 26: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview on Ynet News - discussing his trip to the region, the plight of hostages in Gaza and the continued work of American Jewry to help bring them home.
Oct 17: Rabbi Rick Jacobs interview with Fox News - discussing the bombing of a hospital in Gaza, Biden's visit to Israel, the implications of an Israeli ground incursion, and the importance of President Biden's visit to Israel on October 18.
Oct 14: Rabbi Rick Jacobs appearance on MSNBC - condemning Hamas's attack on Israel, encouraging continued U.S. support for Israel, and articulating the moral imperative to protect Jewish and Palestinian civilians by eliminating Hamas's terrorist infrastructure.
Journalist Amir Tibon's personal story - Diplomatic correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz Amir Tibon shares his powerful personal story of survival and rescue.
Oct 7: Rabbi Rick Jacobs appearance on Fox - speaking on the brutal attacks' impact on Israel and America.

Webinars

Resilience, Relief, and Compassion - recorded on October 25 by the Israel Reform Movement and partners. Hear from family members of the hostages, harrowing stories from escapees from Kibbutzim of Shaar Ha Negev, and learn about the global Reform Movement's work to provide relief, compassion, and hope during this terrible time.
Our Hearts are in the East - produced on October 9 by by Sing Unto God featuring music, poetry, and prayer with Reform musicians, clergy, and friends.
Reform Movement-wide "Standing in Solidarity with Israel" - recorded on October 9, during which we received updates from our southern Israel communities and shared in a moment of communal mourning.

Statements and Video Messages

This page will continue to be updated with more information and opportunities for you to support Israel as they become available.

About the Author

Ellie Rudee

Ellie Rudee (she/her) is the marketing and content manager for the Union for Reform Judaism. Since graduating from Scripps College in 2015, she made aliyah to Israel and has worked as a journalist focusing on global Jewry and culinary arts, and in marketing and PR. She is a trained culinary tour guide of Jerusalem, started the Jerusalem Cooking Club for young Jerusalemites, and has hosted local and international cooking workshops and retreats. Her first cookbook, Tastes of Freedom: A Passover Cookbook, was published in 2022 and was translated to Spanish and Russian. She loves to teach people about the intersections of food, culture, and Jewish peoplehood. Follow her adventures in Israel on Instagram at @foodierudee.

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Jewish Ethics

Staying Connected with Our Loved Ones Even When we Disagree

November 15, 2023

Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7th and Israel’s ongoing response has stirred emotions both within and outside the Jewish community. Over the next weeks, as family and friends gather for holiday celebrations, there may be differences of opinion. Here are a few tips from Jewish sources to help maintain loving relationships while disagreeing.

Israel Peace and Security

Keeping Our Congregations Secure

October 30, 2023

On October 7/23 Tishrei, we watched in horror as Israel experienced an unprovoked attack from the Hamas terrorist organization during what should have been the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed or injured; as a Movement, we pray for the quick resolution of this tragic situation.